Palghar Zilla Parishad Plans Night Drive to Remove Stray Cattle From Roads

Cattle owners have been given two days to claim and secure their livestock. After the deadline, authorities will seize stray animals found on the streets and permanently shift them to registered shelters, an official said.

The decision was finalised during a high-level coordination meeting held on September 2 and chaired by Palghar Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Manoj Ranade. The meeting was attended by shelter representatives, animal welfare advocates, police officials, NGOs and Corporate Social Responsibility partners.

As part of the plan, a coordinated drive will be carried out on the night of September 8. The operation will focus on mapping clusters of stray cattle, managing their transportation under police protection and safely transferring the animals to partner facilities. Shelters have also been mapped for the operation.

Animal welfare volunteers and shelter trustees have sought official identification badges for personnel involved in night operations, administrative funding, a standard colour scheme for cattle ambulances and legal support so that shelters do not bear litigation costs for confiscated cattle.

The campaign will proceed after the two-day deadline given to cattle owners, with authorities preparing to remove animals found on public roads and shift them permanently to registered shelters. The September 8 night operation is aimed at coordinating the identification, transportation and sheltering of the stray cattle.