The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has begun implementing a long-pending plan to remove cowsheds from the city, following a directive from the Bombay High Court. The decision comes a year after the civic body first initiated the process to evict cow and buffalo sheds from urban areas, a move that faced legal opposition from farm-related organisations.
In response to a July 15 court order, Additional Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Joshi has instructed officials to proceed with necessary action. The court’s directive reinforces previous rulings by both the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court, which have maintained that cowsheds should not be permitted within city limits.
Until 2005, cowsheds were issued licenses in Mumbai. However, a policy shift later declared the city a cowshed-free zone. Despite this, many cowsheds continued operating, especially in areas under the jurisdiction of the District Collector.
Currently, Mumbai has 263 cowsheds, of which only 59 are licensed, while 204 operate without valid permissions. In 2023, the BMC began issuing eviction notices, but the move was challenged by organisations like the Mumbai Milk Producers Association, leading to a legal standoff.
The state government had also written to the BMC, stating that removing cowsheds from Collector-controlled areas was not within its purview, urging the civic body to take independent action where possible.
With legal clarity now provided by the High Court’s recent ruling, the BMC is moving forward. One of the proposals involves shifting the cowsheds to Dapcheri in Palghar district, a designated relocation site identified earlier.
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Officials said the civic body is currently reviewing the court’s decision and examining legal aspects related to the relocation process. This includes reissuing notices, addressing logistical challenges, and coordinating with stakeholders. As of now, approximately 9,959 cows and buffaloes are housed in these sheds across the city. A final decision on the relocation strategy is expected soon.
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