Mumbai News: BMC To Relocate All Suburban Cattle Sheds To Dapchari By August-End, Final Notices Issued

Mumbai: Nearly two decades after the 2005 deluge, Mumbai is set to take a long-awaited step toward relocating all suburban cattle sheds (tabelas) to Dapchari in Palghar district. In a high-level meeting held at the BMC headquarters on Thursday evening, civic authorities instructed ward officials to issue formal notices to all tabela owners in their respective wards by the end of August.

In compliance with the Bombay High Court’s (HC) directives, the BMC commenced the relocation of cattle sheds in August 2024. However, the initiative encountered resistance from cattle shed owners, leading to delays in its implementation.

To review the progress, a high-level meeting was recently convened under the chairmanship of Additional Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Joshi. The meeting was attended by officials from the Animals Husbandry and dairy department, the License Department, and Assistant Municipal Commissioners of the respective wards where tabelas are currently located.

BMC Sets August 31 Deadline for Notices to Cattle Shed Owners

"The Legal Department will review all related court orders and finalise the draft documents. Subsequently, notices will be issued to the cattle shed owners by August 31. In parallel, the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department will ensure that all necessary infrastructure including roads, water supply, and other essential facilities is in place at Dapchari. This comprehensive preparation aims to eliminate any grounds for resistance from the cattle shed owners," said a senior civic official who attended the meeting.

Only 59 of 263 Mumbai Cattle Sheds Licensed

Currently, the city has a total of 263 cattle sheds, of which only 59 hold valid licenses. The largest number are concentrated in Goregaon and Malad, which together host 68 sheds. Other clusters include Andheri East with 27 sheds, Kandivali East with 24, Ghatkopar with 23, and Santacruz East with 22.

Additional cattle sheds are scattered across Bhandup, Kurla, Govandi, Chembur, Mulund, Andheri West, Khar, and Bandra. An official noted, “Some cattle sheds are located on Forest Department land in Aarey. However, as these sites lie outside the city boundaries and have all the requisite permissions, they will not be subject to relocation.”

Relocation Push Stems from 2005 Flood Tragedy

The initiative to relocate cattle sheds gained momentum following the floods on July 26, 2005, which tragically resulted in the drowning of hundreds of cattle across the city.

The state government issued a notification amending the Maharashtra Keeping and Movement of Cattle in Urban Areas (Control) Act, 1976, to address this issue.

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However, despite these measures, cattle shed owners were reluctant to relocate to Dapchari, resulting in a legal action. The HC had earlier reprimanded the state government for its failure to take effective steps in relocating both cattle and cattle sheds outside Mumbai.