CHANDIGARH, MAY 25 — The Bhagwant Mann-led administration is finalizing a structural shift in its stray animal management policy, moving to implement legally enforced boundaries to keep stray cattle and dogs away from public hubs. The Local Government Department confirmed it is drafting a statewide action plan that mandates strict animal exclusion zones in compliance with animal welfare statutes.
The regulatory framework requires municipal corporations, deputy commissioners, and panchayati raj institutions to systematically clear animals from urban parks, transport terminals, and major expressways. The government plans to set up prominent highway signage displaying dedicated emergency helplines so motorists can report animal obstructions directly.
“Detailed guidelines would be issued in the coming days,” Punjab Local Government Minister Harjot Bains declared, confirming that the finalized strategy will be deployed uniformly across all districts to protect citizens.
The operational details of the upcoming rollout include:
- Eight-Week Infrastructure Deadline: Nodal officers must secure perimeter entryways and fix structural fencing at public sites within two months.
- Waste Management Directives: Municipal teams must implement clean disposal systems around hospitals and schools to eliminate stray food hazards.
- Sterilization Expansion: The state intends to open new veterinary centers to plug existing gaps, moving up from the current count of 18 functional centers.
The government stated that all new shelters and canine care facilities will operate in strict accordance with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The policy adjustments come during a period of heightened urgency, as the state experiences an average of more than 1,100 reported dog-bite injuries every day.
The upcoming guidelines will direct local civic bodies to work alongside national highway authorities to clear roaming cattle from major routes. The department affirmed that the dual approach aims to improve transit safety on the roads while creating completely secure environments outside schools, airports, and municipal parks.
