By IANS,
Ghaziabad : The carcasses of at least 30 cows were discovered in Ghaziabad Saturday morning, with their owner and others suspecting the animals had consumed poisonous garbage at an unauthorized dumping ground.
“We had no idea that the garbage of amla would be so poisonous. So we had untied them and let them roam free, thinking they would return on their own as usual. But today, we were shocked when we saw them lying dead in the fields around,” said Dhyan Singh, the owner.
The nearby dump has heaps of garbage containing poisonous amla, the citrus fruit used by drug factories in the neighbourhood.
The cows were all healthy and fertile and Dhyan Singh had purchased them only three days ago from Meerut.
While at least 30 cows were found dead, about 15 others were withering in pain and were given first-aid by veterinary doctors.
Ashima Sharma, an animal rights activist, said: “The carnage on such a big scale has happened for the first time in the whole of western Uttar Pradesh. Our doctors rushed to the spot to give medicines to the ailing cows. We have also brought some of them to our centre for treatment.
“We have demanded a strong action against those behind this cruelty. If the culprits are not arrested we would take it on a bigger scale,” she said.
Many residents blamed the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation for allowing the garbage to pile up in a residential area.
Akhil Kumar, who lives nearby, said: “The garbage is lying in about a one acre area and it is blatantly dumped by contractors of pharma companies. The area remains engulfed with a highly offensive smell and has also caused diseases to many of us.
“Some civic officials have allowed them (contractors) to dump garbage openly here, along National Highway 58.”
Ghaziabad Mayor Damyanti Goel said: “We are investigating who is responsible. Our health department team is treating the cows that have survived. Those guilty will not be spared.”
A first information report (FIR) was registered at the Sihani Gate Police Station.
“We have registered a case under section 429 of IPC (Indian Penal Code) and section 11 of the Animal Cruelty Act against two contractors, Sachin Kumar Dubey and Satish Agnihotri, who dumped the industrial waste at this site. They have been detained,” Senior Superintendet of Police L. Ravi Kumar said.
“We have also arrested Dharam Singh Tyagi, the owner of the land where the garbage allowed to pile up,” Kumar added.