VARANASI: Uttar Pradesh's Animal Husbandry Department issued directions on Friday, November 6, 2026, for cattle shelters across the state, including Varanasi, to undertake special cleaning and animal care for a November 10 Govardhan Puja programme. The same review made chief veterinary officers accountable for unattended cattle found on national highways and major roads.
For residents travelling through Pindra or Rajatalab, the immediate practical step is to report a road hazard with its precise location to the responsible authorities. The state directions require safe shelter and regular monitoring of unattended cattle. They do not announce a particular Varanasi road clearance operation or identify a local collection team.
People seeking action on cattle care can use the Animal Husbandry Department's published livestock problem helpline, 1800 180 5141. Varanasi's official departmental directory also lists 8765959737 for the chief veterinary officer, whose responsibilities include cattle shelter maintenance. These are published contact routes; no response time or collection appointment is promised in the November 6 release.
What the new directions require
Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister Dharampal Singh gave the instructions during a review at his Vidhan Bhavan office in Lucknow. The official November 6 release says unattended cattle should not be found roaming on national highways or major roads in any district. It warns that the relevant chief veterinary officer will face accountability and strict action if that happens.
The minister linked the instruction to two departmental responsibilities: protection of unattended cattle and prevention of road accidents. Officers were directed to provide safe shelter and maintain regular supervision. The release describes an instruction to officials, rather than reporting that an officer has already been punished or that a particular road has been cleared.
For Tuesday, November 10, the department has asked all cattle shelters in the state to organise Govardhan Puja programmes and invite local public representatives. The operational directions include a special cleanliness drive, proper care of the cattle, and arrangements to feed them jaggery and green fodder.
Supervision is assigned to the relevant divisional additional directors and chief veterinary officers. The release gives the programme date but no opening time, public entry hours or Varanasi shelter itinerary. Residents wishing to attend or contribute should first check arrangements with the shelter concerned rather than assume every site has the same visiting schedule.
What residents should do
A useful complaint should distinguish between an immediate obstruction on a road and a continuing problem with shelter care. As practical advice, give the village or ward, nearby junction or landmark, the time of the sighting and the nature of the problem. That information helps identify the location; it is not an additional document requirement announced by the department.
The district's officers directory groups cattle shelter maintenance with the chief veterinary officer's animal husbandry responsibilities. It also lists vaccination, artificial insemination, livestock insurance and the Chief Minister's participation scheme under that office. Readers should identify the service they need when using the published contact number.
For an unresolved administrative complaint, the state's Jansunwai Samadhan portal offers registration, status tracking, reminders and feedback. Registration uses an OTP. The portal says a reminder can be sent when the prescribed disposal period has passed, and feedback on disposal quality can be examined by senior officers, who can reopen a disposed reference.
Keep the complaint reference and distinguish a recorded disposal from the actual condition at the reported site. The portal's feedback facility provides a way to explain whether the problem persists. This is an existing grievance mechanism, not a new deadline or a special cattle rescue service created by Friday's review.
Care requirements extend beyond a festival
The Animal Husbandry Department's shelter management portal explains that the state's temporary shelter framework dates to government orders issued in January 2019. Its listed arrangements include drinking water, lighting, security, veterinary care, feed and fodder, housing conditions and treatment. It also covers calf care, labour, record keeping and documentation.
Those standing requirements provide context for the new cleaning and monitoring directions. The November 6 review also asked officials to accelerate formation of dairy societies. Additional Chief Secretary Mukesh Kumar Meshram directed timely compliance and continuing review of cattle protection, shelter cleanliness, the November 10 programme and dairy related work.
For other local service information, readers can consult the earlier reports on the municipal complaint hearing, November ration distribution hours and festival parking and footpath checks. Those reports concern separate services and do not establish compliance with the new cattle shelter directions.
