Dairies in residential areas posing threat to lives

Though after the outbreak of gastroenteritis and diarrhoea the municipal corporation (MC) acted against two dairies in Jawaddi, around 300 more dairies are running in violation of the norms in the residential areas and are posing threat to human lives.

Residents are a harried lot due to dairies. In violation of the Municipal Corporation Act, these dairies are being run in the residential areas and the MC has been ignoring the complaints of residents.

Besides the residential areas, around 1,000 dairies are being run on the Hambran Road and Tajpur Road and the MC has proposed to shift all dairies to different places outside the city.

However, the delay in shifting these dairies is making the residents suffer who are forced to live in unhygienic conditions.
Residents of Parkash Nagar were the worst affected as a dairy owner collected cow dung in the adjoining plot due to which residents were forced to live under unhygienic conditions. It was also learnt that the sewerage often remained blocked as cow dung was being released into the sewer lane.

Similarly, the residents of Nanak Nagar claimed that they were forced to live under unsanitary conditions due to a dairy being run by a religious organisation. The stink was exhausted through fans from the cattle shed situated in the residential area.

“We keep windows and doors closed as it is difficult to breathe. We have submitted complaints to the chief minister, health minister, deputy commissioner and the MC officials, but no action has been taken against the dairy,” said Rajinder Singh, a resident of the Nanak Nagar.

“I think the MC is waiting for an outbreak here as it is not ready to take action. The sewerage gets choked as waste and cow dung is also being released into sewer, he claimed.

According to an official of the MC, 300 dairies, which are being run in the residential areas, release waste into sewer against the norms. Also, the dairies which are running from the dairy complexes of Hambran Road and Tajpur Road release waste in drains. The drainage department has also lodged several complaints against the dairy owners for violating norms.

The officer said there were 10-150 cattle in each dairy that was being run in the residential areas. Kamlesh Kumar, a resident of Shivpuri, said, “One such dairy is running in our area. The MC officials should act to shift these dairies as these have made our lives hell.”

MC's health officer Dr Charanjit Uppal said, “There is a proposal to shift all dairies outside the city as per law. We have also written to the deputy commissioner in this regard and we recently closed dairies in Jawaddi. We will take action against other dairies also.”
Chief of health and sanitation wing Amarjit Singh Sekhon was not available for comment.