MCD seeks five cattle shelters as Delhi estimates 25,000 on streets

More than 25,000 cattle are estimated to be on Delhi’s streets, while the city’s four approved cattle shelters are holding more animals than their combined capacity of 19,838.

MCD veterinary teams pick up 50 to 60 stray cattle each day. Officials said collection drives sometimes have to pause because no space is available to house the animals.

The MCD has sought at least five additional large shelters, each with space for 4,000 to 5,000 cattle.

The operational shelters are at Surhera, Rewla Khanpur, Harewali and Sultanpur Dabas in Bawana. The Surhera facility houses 4,933 cattle and the Rewla Khanpur shelter houses 2,982. Officials said the other two facilities are also over capacity.

Delhi announced plans last year for a cattle shelter in each of its 13 districts and later identified seven possible sites. No new shelter has opened in the past year. Cattle have also been seen on roads and near garbage collection points in central Delhi, beyond the city’s outer areas and rural fringes.

The MCD and Delhi government each contribute ₹20 per animal per day to approved shelters. Shelter operators have reported pending municipal payments and higher running costs.