RAWALPINDI, Feb 7: The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has divided the cantonment into three zones as part of its plan to shift cattle outside its limits, sources told Dawn.

According to the plan, zone-A has been declared as cattle free zone. The areas that fall under this zone are wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and some parts of ward 10. The RCB has decided not to allow any cattle in these areas.

The villages of Misrial and Dhoke Syedan fall under zone-B which has been declared as buffer zone. The milch animal owners will be allowed to keep their cattle inside the premises of this zone subject to obtaining proper licence from the cantonment board. In this zone, the cattle will be allowed only for temporary stay till their owners make proper settlement arrangements outside the cantonment limits.

Zone-C consists of Dhoke Gujran, Dhoke Pian, Chistiabad, Jhangi Syedan, Nasirabad upto Golra and also some parts of wards 8 and 9. These areas have been earmarked for permanent settlement of the buffalo owners.

All facilities including transportation to new locations, water supply, provision of veterinary hospitals and link roads will be provided to these areas so that the dairy owners are able to bring their milk products to other localities for sale.

The cantonment, however, will not provide any land. The cattle-owners will themselves arrange land for their herds. Similarly, cattle-owners have also been asked to ensure proper sanitation in the new premises they want to settle.

The cattle-owners will have to keep their animals within the pens and not allow them to roam outside in the lanes, streets or roads.

The RCB has decided to round up all stray cattle and impose a fine on the owners under the policy of the civic body.

Meanwhile, about 10 per cent of the buffalo owners still exist in the jurisdiction of the Tehsil mainly due to non- availability of transportation facilities and proper places for settlement in new sites.

In some areas, the people have hidden their herds inside their houses.

During a raid, the TMA staff took the cattle of Union Council No 44 Nazim Haji Ghafoor into custody.

The TMA spokesman, however, denied there was any cattle left in the Tehsil limits.

A meeting was also held in the office of the Tehsil municipal officer, Col Najamul Hassan Malik, in which it was decided that the sanitary supervisor concerned would be held accountable if any buffalo was found in his ward.

The meeting was also attended by the in charge, sanitation department, Dr Mazhar, and chief sanitary inspector.

The Tehsil Nazim, Raja Hamid Nawaz, also visited Adiala Road to check the arrangements for the settlement of buffalo owners.

The TMA spokesman said facilities like water and a road would be provided by the civic agency. Three sites at Adiala Road, Baga Sheikhan and Tarnol have been allocated for the milch animal owners.

Most of the cattle-owners, however, are reluctant to go to these places due to non-availability of basic facilities. Many buffalo owners have shifted their animals to places of their own choice.