Panchkula, Jan. 23 -- The recent death of dozens of cattle at a gaushala in Raipur Kalan village, managed by the Chandigarh municipal corporation (MC), has triggered fresh concerns over the functioning and monitoring of animal shelters in the Tricity region. In Panchkula, although nine gaushalas are operational, none is directly run by the Panchkula MC. Instead, all are managed by NGOs, and one facility-Shri Madhav Gaushala in village Sukhdarshanpur-operates on MC-provided land. Currently, around 4,800 cattle are housed across the nine gaushalas in Panchkula, against a combined maximum capacity of approximately 5,000. The largest facilities-Shri Mata Mansa Devi Gaushala and Shri Van Sewa Dham Gaushala (Sector 23)-can each accommodate up to 1,500 cattle. On the other hand, Shri Nandishala Gaushala in Kot village and Shri Chander Shekhar Azad Gaushala in Naggal village have capacities of just 100 cattle each. A municipal corporation (MC) official stated that the gaushalas in Panchkula have nearly reached full capacity, creating challenges for the placement of captured cattle. To address this, there is a proposal to establish a new gaushala in Billa village to accommodate the stray animal population. Gaushala operators attribute cattle mortality to several factors, with plastic ingestion emerging as the most serious cause. Stray cattle, accustomed to scavenging garbage on city roads, often consume plastic waste and later refuse nutritious fodder after being relocated to shelters. One caretaker revealed that 10 to 15 cattle die every month at their gaushala, primarily due to plastic accumulation in the stomach. Other causes of death include cardiac arrest, infections, severe injuries from fights, and digestive disorders linked to malnutrition or overeating. As per the 2017 notification of the Haryana department of animal husbandry and dairying, gaushalas are required to strictly follow animal welfare protocols. These include mandatory 12-digit unique ID tagging and registration of every animal, immediate medical screening upon arrival, and a compulsory quarantine period of 10-14 days for new cattle. Sick or contagious animals must be isolated to prevent the spread of disease. The guidelines also stress humane living conditions. Elderly, blind, and infirm cattle are to be kept in less crowded sheds, while all livestock must receive vaccinations against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS), and Brucellosis. Gaushalas are mandated to provide well-ventilated, sunlit shelters, balanced feed, trained staff, weekly biomedical waste disposal, and to maintain detailed medical and mortality records. Staffing levels at gaushalas vary depending on capacity. Shri Mata Mansa Devi Gaushala, with space for 1,500 cattle, employs around 50 workers, while smaller shelters function with just five to ten staff members. Government funding is also linked to cattle numbers. Under existing norms, gaushalas receive daily fodder subsidies of Rs.30 for a Nandi (bull), Rs.20 for a cow, and Rs.10 for a calf. As a result, annual assistance from the Haryana Gau Seva Aayog runs into several lakh rupees for larger facilities. While some gaushalas have appointed veterinary livestock development assistants (VLDAs) to oversee animal health, others continue to rely on nearby government dispensaries, raising questions about uniformity in veterinary care and long-term cattle welfare. Anil Nain, chief sanitary inspector (CSI) of the Panchkula MC, said that teams regularly capture stray cattle from city roads. "In the first 20 days of this month alone, around 50 cattle have been caught and shifted to gaushalas. Last year, 1,626 cattle were caught, compared to 1,136 in 2024," he said. Nain added that strict action is being taken against owners who let their cattle roam freely, with fines imposed on violators. He further noted that stray cattle remain a major issue in border areas, where animals from Punjab and Chandigarh frequently enter Panchkula. The most affected sectors include 16, 17, 20, and 21....