To curb road accidents and public safety risks, the Uttarakhand government has issued a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the removal of stray cattle and dogs from highways, expressways and public places. Acting on Supreme Court directions, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan has instructed all concerned departments to implement the SOP in a phased manner across the state.
For the first time, multiple departments including Panchayati Raj, Transport, Health, Animal Husbandry, Education, PWD and district administrations have been jointly made responsible. Hospitals have been directed to ensure the availability of anti-rabies vaccines, while stray dog population control will be strengthened through capture, sterilisation, vaccination and rehabilitation under the ABC-ARV model.
At the administrative level, a state-level monitoring and implementation committee will be formed under the chairmanship of the Principal Secretary or Secretary, Urban Development. At the district level, committees headed by district magistrates will monitor and review all activities. Mapping will be carried out based on the estimated number of stray animals and the availability of nearby gaushalas and dog shelters.
Dedicated patrol and animal-catching teams will be set up at district headquarters. Each team will include a driver, two trained animal handlers and a veterinary assistant. Districts with higher stray populations—Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, Pauri and Nainital—will receive additional animal pickup vehicles, while other districts will be provided one vehicle each.
To improve coordination, a dedicated portal and mobile app will be developed to link all departments. The system will provide real-time data on shelter capacity and animal availability. In Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital, two new dog shelters with a capacity of 100 dogs each will be established initially.
A separate paragraph addressing the concern
While the SOP lays out an extensive framework, past experience raises concerns over on-ground execution. Stray cattle and dogs frequently reappear on highways and public spaces even after removal, pointing to weak monitoring and accountability. Without strict enforcement, adequate funding and regular audits, the SOP risks remaining a paperwork exercise rather than delivering lasting relief from accidents and public safety hazards.
To prevent accidents, stray animals will be removed immediately from national highways and expressways. High-risk road stretches will be closely monitored, and a dedicated helpline number 1905 has been issued for public reporting. Junior engineer-level officers will be assigned for stretch-wise monitoring, and control rooms will alert the nearest animal-catching teams.
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Stray cattle and dogs will also be removed from schools, hospitals, railway stations, bus stands, sports complexes and other public places. Animals found causing safety or hygiene issues will be humanely captured and shifted to authorised shelters and gaushalas, with nodal officers appointed for area-wise monitoring.
