Nagpur: More than half the cattle sheds within Nagpur city limits are operating without municipal permission, according to data furnished by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.The figures, supplied by the veterinary services cell of NMC’s solid waste management department in response to an RTI application filed by Abhay Kolarkar, show that the city has 1,046 cattle sheds, of which 589 are unauthorised.Dharampeth zone has the highest number of cattle sheds at 188, including 134 unauthorised ones. Ashi Nagar has 133 cattle sheds, 104 of them unauthorised. Laxmi Nagar has 115 sheds, with 66 lacking permission, while Dhantoli has 108 sheds, including 54 unauthorised ones. Gandhibagh has 100 sheds, 50 of them unauthorised, while Lakadganj and Satranjipura have 56 and 40 unauthorised sheds respectively.The scale of unauthorised activity is significant given the persistent problem of cattle straying onto city roads, causing traffic disruption and posing risks to motorists, particularly two-wheeler riders. Unregulated cattle-keeping also leads to the accumulation of dung and wastewater in residential neighbourhoods and along roadsides, compounding the city’s existing solid-waste and drainage challenges.Lack of a clear enforcement record further worsens the situation. Although Kolarkar’s application specifically sought details of action taken against owners of the 589 unauthorised sheds, NMC’s reply did not specify what, if any, action had been initiated.Nandgram project nears completionNMC’s Nandgram project at Wathoda, intended to address the stray-cattle menace, is in its final stages. The state govt sanctioned Rs 104 crore for the project in March 2023. Its first phase, costing approximately Rs 80.75 crore, includes 70 cattle sheds with capacity for around 1,750 animals, along with a veterinary hospital, an administrative building, internal roads, a biogas plant, and wastewater treatment facilities. As of July 2026, 69 of the 70 sheds had been completed, along with the veterinary hospital, administrative building, and internal roads.CATTLE SHEDS IN NAGPUR: THE NUMBERS Total sheds identified: 1,046 With permission: 457 Without permission: 589 Unauthorised share: 56.3% Zones covered: 10 Highest total: Dharampeth — 188 Highest without permission: Dharampeth — 134 Highest proportion without permission: Dharampeth — 71.3% Ashi Nagar: 104 of 133 without permission Laxmi Nagar: 66 of 115 without permission
