A severe crisis of administrative mismanagement and neglect has gripped the municipal cow shelter located in the Budh Vihar area of Alwar city. Municipal corporation lapses combined with an acute shortage of caretakers have left the sheltered animals deprived of regular fodder, drinking water, and basic hygiene. Following recent rainfall, the entire shelter ground has turned into a waterlogged swamp. At present, more than 300 cattle are forced to remain standing day and night in deep muck, with no dry ground available for them to sit down or rest.
Carcasses Found on Site and Medical Neglect in Lumpy Ward
An on-site inspection of the Kanji House premises exposed gross systemic neglect by the civic administration. Inside the designated lumpy ward, two cattle were found lying dead, while a severely ill cow was writhing in distress in the mud. Furthermore, the carcass of a calf had been decomposing beneath a tin shed for several days, spreading foul stench and triggering serious concerns about infectious disease outbreaks across the facility. Approximately eight cows were discovered with severe festering wounds, their health deteriorating rapidly due to an absence of timely veterinary care.
Staff Diverted to Panchayat Polls Leaves Shelter Paralyzed
The shelter currently houses approximately 450 cattle. The municipal corporation had originally deployed a total workforce of six employees to handle feeding, monitoring, and regular sanitation across the facility. However, four of these staff members were reassigned to election duties for the panchayat polls, leaving just two workers to manage the entire compound. Taking care of feeding, watering, cleaning, and caring for 450 animals with only two staff members has proved virtually impossible. Amisha, the Revenue Officer of the Municipal Corporation, acknowledged that assigning personnel to election work caused operational hurdles. She stated that three dead animals have since been removed and veterinary doctors were summoned to treat the sick cattle.
Outrage Among Cow Volunteers and Protest Warning
As news regarding the dead cattle and horrific shelter conditions spread, numerous cow welfare volunteers gathered at the Budh Vihar facility, expressing deep anger over the scene. The volunteers arranged for an animal ambulance to transport a critically ill cow to a veterinary hospital for urgent medical attention. Cow volunteer Kamalkant Shastri demanded that the municipal mayor and district administration immediately overhaul the shelter's management. His demands include constructing adequate tin sheds, arranging reliable supplies of cattle feed, and ensuring consistent medical rounds for injured and sick animals. Shastri warned that if the authorities fail to rectify the dire conditions immediately, volunteers will stage aggressive protests against the district administration.
