We Want People To Have Quality Milk, Not Contaminated Milk Not Poison: Delhi HC
The plea was filed by Sunayana Sibal stated, "The bovines in the dairy colonies are subject to brutal cruelty, experience immense unnecessary suffering and pain, and are reared in the absence of the infrastructure required by law leading to unhygienic and unsafe milk products, copious amounts of pollution being discharged and a complete public nuisance being created."
The Delhi High Court On Friday, while hearing Sunayana Sibal's plea against alleged animal cruelty in dairy colonies, stated that the government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will ensure the new facilities are well-equipped with the best infrastructure, including a biogas plant and drainage systems.
The court issued the order after directing the demolition of Bhalswa dairies, which are required to relocate to Ghogha Dairy Colony, 20 km away, within four weeks. The decision was made due to concerns that the cattle’s exposure to landfill waste was affecting the quality of the milk.
The counsel representing the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) has submitted maps and a master plan for the proposed relocation of the dairy colonies. Following a previous court order, the government was instructed to provide a status report on the new location for the shift. Counsel further informed the court that the area allotted by GNCTD is adequate to shift the dairy colonies.
The bench led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora after analyzing the master plan and the maps questioned the counsel regarding grazing areas for the cattle.
Counsel for the Petitioner responded, "As far as I understand, there was no grazing area in the original plan. Now, in the new location, they have designated a grazing area, but they are assuming there will be no construction in this space."
The court further told the GNCTD to revise this plan per the last order. and said, ''If you allow the stakeholders to have a family home then this proposed location will fall into the same condition. Even in the current dairy colony, people have turned the land into commercial and residential land''
The court noted that if a residential colony is located near these cows, the animals are likely to consume toxic waste, which would prevent them from producing healthy milk. "We want people to have quality milk in the city, not contaminated milk. Not poison", ACJ Added.
They further highlighted that the presence of showrooms in the Bhalswa dairy area indicates widespread illegal construction in the region.
The court, while emphasizing that the area is not a residential zone, said "There are 419 dairy, so how can there be 600 dairy owners? How is it possible?". The bench further added that the licenses were issued to operate dairies, not to conduct commercial activities.
In its order, the court stated that the government and MCD will ensure top-quality infrastructure at the new site, including facilities such as a biogas plant and drainage systems. The counsel for the MCD presented the layout and master plans, which will be finalized after the fire committee submits its report. The matter is scheduled for further review on August 23.
On August 6, the MCD issued an official notice giving occupants of illegally repurposed dairy plots a three-day ultimatum. The notice pointed out that these plots had been improperly converted for residential, commercial, or industrial purposes, which is in violation of the allotment.
Previously, the Delhi High Court had reprimanded the government for turning a 'blind eye' to the irreversible harm that could result from the milk produced by dairy colonies near the Ghazipur and Bhalaswa landfill sites.