The Chhattisgarh High Court recently heard a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Sanjay Rajak, seeking directions to the state government to take effective measures to curb the menace of stray cattle on highways and roads in the state.
The court has been monitoring the progress made by the state government in addressing this issue.
In compliance with the court’s order, the Chief Secretary of the state filed an affidavit stating that a survey report was submitted by the Divisional Commissioners of the state, which included details of the number of gram panchayats and municipal bodies situated beside roads with substantial traffic.
The report also included the number of domestic cattle and stray cattle in those areas.
The state government has taken several steps to address the issue, including conducting meetings with cattle owners to educate and sensitize them about the menace of stray cattle.
The government has also identified places for cleaning and leveling to provide resting places for stray cattle.
Additionally, authorities have been given the responsibility of removing stray cattle from roads, and volunteer groups have been engaged to assist in this effort.
The court was informed that a six-member committee has been constituted to draft a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for dealing with the menace of stray cattle.
The committee is expected to submit its report in the first week of December 2024.
The National Highways Authority of India has also been directed to submit best practices from other states in the country.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal has listed the matter for further hearing on December 16, 2024, to review the progress made by the state government in implementing effective measures to curb the menace of stray cattle on highways and roads in the state.