Chandigarh, Jan. 23 -- The absence of adequate funding and a concrete policy for running cow shelters has resulted in the poor functioning of five gaushalas in Chandigarh, which together house 1,932 bovines. Despite the city receiving Rs.12-13 crore annually as cow cess, conditions in these shelters remain unsatisfactory, with no proper records of cattle, lack of geo-tagging, missing treatment registers, absence of CCTV cameras, poor sanitation and inadequate arrangements to protect animals during winter.

Unlike Haryana's Municipal (Cow-Houses) Bye-laws, 1978-which clearly lay down norms related to infrastructure, hygiene, health, ventilation, space, waste management and cleanliness-no such bye-laws have been framed by the municipal corp...