JAMMU: Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Mandeep Kaur, on Monday conducted an extensive inspection of various animal shelters across Jammu to assess infrastructure, animal welfare facilities and the progress of ongoing works.
The shelters inspected included Bandhu Rakh, Chowadi, Bhagwati Nagar, Roopnagar, and the Gaushala at Panjgrai, Nagrota. Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), Dr. Devansh Yadav, accompanied the Commissioner Secretary during the tour.
During the inspection, Mandeep Kaur directed the construction of a new cow shelter at Bandhu Rakh on vacant land belonging to JMC and instructed the concerned authorities to initiate the process immediately.
She also reviewed the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme at Chowadi and issued directions to further strengthen its implementation and enhance facilities. At Bhagwati Nagar, where dog kennels are already in place, instructions were given to commence the ABC programme at the earliest.
At the Roopnagar Animal Care Centre, the Commissioner Secretary reviewed renovation works underway and directed that construction waste be utilised for flooring wherever feasible. She emphasised the need for proper ventilation and adequate arrangements to ensure animals are protected during extreme summer and winter conditions.
Earlier, Mandeep Kaur inspected the Nagrota Gaushala, which currently houses around 206 cows, bulls and calves, along with about 32 horses. She reviewed maintenance and care arrangements and expressed satisfaction over the measures taken by JMC for animal welfare.
The Commissioner Secretary assessed animal welfare measures and construction progress at all five locations and issued necessary directions to further improve facilities.
Among others, Joint Commissioner Health and Sanitation Abdul Sattar, Director Building Centre Kafeel Firozi, Joint Commissioner Works Firdous Ahmed Qazi, Municipal Veterinary Officer Dr. Jaswant Singh, Animal Welfare Officer Dr. Gaurav Chaudhary, VAS Dr. Priyanka Malhotra, Executive Engineers and other field staff accompanied the Commissioner Secretary during the visit.
