The Delhi High Court has directed the MCD commissioner to explore the possibility of involving a cooperative such as Amul or Mother Dairy in setting up a collection center at Ghogha Dairy. This would provide dairy owners with a ready market for their milk.
The court had previously asked the city authorities to present a plan for the expeditious allotment of plots in the Ghogha Dairy colony to those willing to relocate from Bhalswa Dairy.
During the proceedings, the MCD’s counsel presented a master plan for Ghogha Dairy in northwest Delhi. The counsel stated that the layout plan for each plot is being prepared for submission to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) House and that the final plan would be filed in court by August 25.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora stated, “In the proposed master plan, neither the grazing area nor a space for a cooperative society to facilitate the collection of daily milk production has been demarcated. The commissioner of the MCD is directed to assess whether a cooperative, such as Amul or Mother Dairy, or any other organization, can be involved in setting up a collection center at Ghogha Dairy to ensure that dairy owners have a reliable consumer for their produce, thereby making the dairy colony self-sustaining.”
The bench was also addressing various applications from individuals claiming to be residents of Bhalswa Dairy colony, who are aggrieved by the authorities’ demolition or sealing orders that would render them homeless. These applications were filed in a pending petition concerning the poor condition of nine designated dairy colonies in Delhi: Kakrola Dairy, Goela Dairy, Nangli Shakrawati Dairy, Jharoda Dairy, Bhalswa Dairy, Ghazipur Dairy, Shahbad Daulatpur Dairy, Madanpur Khadar Dairy, and Masoodpur Dairy.
The court observed that the focus of the petition and its intent seemed to be misunderstood by many. It clarified that the petition addresses the health and well-being of Delhi’s future generations and the food cycle for its citizens. The petitioners aim to prevent animal cruelty and ensure that Delhi residents receive healthy, uncontaminated milk. The court emphasized that cows and buffaloes consuming toxic waste cannot produce wholesome milk.
“Can we allow infants to drink milk from cows fed with toxic waste from the Bhalswa landfill? This milk is sold across the city, used in formula milk for children, and in milk products like sweets for thousands of consumers,” the court said. The directive to shift dairies from areas adjacent to sanitary landfills aims to protect public health and prevent life-threatening diseases.
The bench also stressed the need for the Delhi government and MCD to provide top-notch infrastructure for the relocated dairy owners, including a grazing area, a biogas plant, sewage and drainage facilities, a veterinary hospital, and a fully integrated milk plant. “This matter is not about real estate; it concerns public health, hygiene, safety, and the prevention of animal cruelty,” it added.
Earlier, the court had ordered the relocation of the Bhalswa dairy colony due to the “inability” of statutory authorities, including the MCD and city government, to prevent milch cattle from feeding on garbage from nearby landfills and to remove unauthorized constructions from dairy colonies. The court had previously noted the “dingy” and “unhygienic” conditions of the dairy units and the presence of commercial constructions.
The MCD has identified 800 illegal structures in the area and plans to relocate more than 400 dairies, housing hundreds of animals, to Ghogha Dairy on the outskirts of Delhi. According to MCD land-use rules, dairy plots can only be used for cattle sheds and cannot be converted into residential units. The court noted that large-scale urbanization, including salons, showrooms, gymnasiums, and cyber cafes, had transformed the character of some dairy colonies, which were originally intended for dairy farming.
