In the absence of an effective strategy by the state government, the menace of stray animals, particularly abandoned cows and bulls, has reached alarming proportions in the Nurpur region over the past few years. The situation has worsened further following the closure of the lone gaushala operated by the Animal Husbandry Department at Khajjian near Nurpur due to the ongoing widening of the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway.
Free-roaming stray cattle on the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway, in local markets, public places and town streets have emerged as a serious threat to pedestrians, commuters and motorists. Residents of Nurpur town are grappling with a growing crisis, as increasing numbers of stray dogs, abandoned cattle and monkeys have made daily life unsafe, particularly for children, women and the elderly. In the absence of a concrete government policy, routine activities such as walking to school, markets or fields have become increasingly risky. Over the years, the population of stray and unproductive cattle in the town has risen sharply.
Herds of cows and bulls are frequently seen wandering along the highway, disrupting traffic and causing accidents. Residents allege that truckloads of stray animals from neighbouring states are often abandoned in the rural areas and along national highways under the cover of darkness. Areas such as Chogan market near the main bus stand and the Bodh-Jachh stretch along National Highway-154 have emerged as major hotspots for stray cattle.
During night hours, cows and bulls without reflector belts are commonly found sitting or roaming on highways and district roads, posing a grave danger to motorists, especially two-wheeler riders. Several road accidents, including fatal ones, have been attributed to stray cattle. However, residents claim that the administration has failed to take adequate measures to address the issue.
According to local sources, the previous state government had directed panchayats and block development offices to construct cowsheds for accommodating stray cattle. However, these directives reportedly remained confined to official records. Likewise, a proposal to establish a cowshed on 80 kanals of land identified in Khanni Gram Panchayat in 2015, with the capacity to house around 500 stray cattle, has remained shelved.
The Animal Husbandry Department had also launched a cattle registration and tagging programme in 2015 to identify livestock owners and discourage the abandonment of animals. However, residents point out that many tagged animals can now be seen roaming on roads, while no action has been taken against their owners.
Various social and voluntary organisations have urged the authorities to coordinate with the Animal Husbandry Department and relocate stray cattle to cow sanctuaries in the Jawali and Damtal areas. They have also demanded strict action against livestock owners who abandon unproductive animals, citing violations of animal welfare laws.
The organisations have further questioned the utilisation of funds collected through the cow cess imposed on liquor bottles and the milk cess recovered from electricity consumers across the state. They argue that despite these levies, no visible or effective measures have been taken to tackle the growing stray cattle problem in the region.
