`Bugs’ to keep bovines at bay

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi is all set to use Information Technology (IT) to keep track of the cows and buffaloes in the Capital through a computer chip embedded in their stomach.

Desperate to check the mushrooming growth of unauthorised dairies across the city and keep a track of the animals, a high-level meeting of the civic body on Friday decided to insert a “special microchip” in the stomach of the animals in the Capital. A similar project is already being implemented in Punjab and is a common practice in developed countries abroad.

The microchip will give a unique identity number to each cow and buffalo in the various dairies of Delhi and would ensure that no new animals are smuggled into the city from the adjoining States, said the Municipal Commissioner, Rakesh Mehta. The MCD has been trying to check the mushrooming of unauthorised dairies and getting rid of stray cattle in Delhi for the past several years.

“We are tightening the noose around illegal dairies and unwanted buffaloes. The owners of all authorised dairies would have to get the microchip inserted in their cattle which would be detected through a special scanner. Those found without the microchip would be impounded and auctioned,” Mr. Mehta said. Each microchip would be given orally to the animals which would then get embedded in their stomach. It is likely to cost the MCD about Rs. 1,000 per animal.

The decision comes in the wake of Supreme Court direction to relocate all unauthorised dairies of the Capital at Ghogha in Narela, North-West Delhi.

“While our survey revealed that there were nearly 35,000 cows and buffaloes in these unauthorised dairies, but we received applications for allotment of land for as many as 50,000 cows and buffaloes. Investigations have revealed that some people from the neighbouring cities and land sharks were trying to get dairy land allotted in Ghogha, which could later on be sold at a high premium,” Mr. Mehta said.

In fact, similar is the story of most of the planned dairy colonies of the city as the original allottees sold their plots, commercialising the entire area.

Mr. Mehta said under the Ghogha dairy relocation scheme, the Delhi Government has allotted 180 acres for the development of a dairy colony with all the necessary facilities and basic infrastructure. As many as 8,344 dairy plots have been booked following applications received from illegal dairy owners, he said.

Apprehending that land sharks were planning to purchase land here, being offered at considerably cheaper rates, Mr. Mehta said the MCD would be collecting 50 per cent of the amount in advance.

“After this, the dairy owners would be asked to bring their animals and the microchip would then be inserted in them. Once the colony is developed, only those people would be given possession of the land whose cattle have microchips,” he said.

“The dairy owners would have to pass a similar test every year. This would ensure that only genuine dairy owners stay here and there is no misuse of the land. We are also making necessary amendments in the agreement with dairy owners before handing over the plot,” Mr. Mehta said.