The Times of India 10.12.2010
Stray cattle continue to have a free run in Mohali
MOHALI: Over a month has passed since 10 acre land was earmarked and Rs 10 crore sanctioned for the construction of a cattle pound in Mohali. However, there seems to be no end in sight for bovine menace on Mohali roads as the authorities seem to have turned a blind eye to the problem.
As stray cows and buffaloes openly roam on congested roads, bringing traffic to a crawl as well as causing accidents, work on the cattle pound is still to start.
Oblivious to the threat posed by their animals on roads, the owners leave them to graze at whatever green stretch they find.
During the current financial year up to August 15, the municipal council had reportedly lifted 426 stray cattle off the streets and relocated them to pounds located in distant Banur and in Maloya village in Chandigarh.
Mohali councillor Kuljeet Singh Bedi said the civic body was running the cattle pound and stray cattle catching operations on adhoc basis and there was no policy framework to regulate the operations. During this fiscal year, there have been 27 accidents due to the presence of stray cattle on busy roads.
Speaking to TOI, chairman of district planning board Narinder Kumar Sharma said the new cattle pound would be set up within the next few months.
”We are looking at spending close to Rs 10 crore to create the facility that would house stray animals and also serve as an enclosure for unclaimed cattle, which could be re-sold later. We had some hitch in setting up the cattle pound in Manauli village and have identified land in Kambali and another village and the proposal would be presented before chief minister Parkash Singh Badal next week,” he said.
Till August 15, MC had earned Rs 1,46,700 as fine from 426 cattle owners and spent Rs 2,73,138 to provide fodder to the animals. Moreover, 4,480 litre diesel had been used to run vehicles for catching stray cattle.
As stray cows and buffaloes openly roam on congested roads, bringing traffic to a crawl as well as causing accidents, work on the cattle pound is still to start.
Oblivious to the threat posed by their animals on roads, the owners leave them to graze at whatever green stretch they find.
During the current financial year up to August 15, the municipal council had reportedly lifted 426 stray cattle off the streets and relocated them to pounds located in distant Banur and in Maloya village in Chandigarh.
Mohali councillor Kuljeet Singh Bedi said the civic body was running the cattle pound and stray cattle catching operations on adhoc basis and there was no policy framework to regulate the operations. During this fiscal year, there have been 27 accidents due to the presence of stray cattle on busy roads.
Speaking to TOI, chairman of district planning board Narinder Kumar Sharma said the new cattle pound would be set up within the next few months.
”We are looking at spending close to Rs 10 crore to create the facility that would house stray animals and also serve as an enclosure for unclaimed cattle, which could be re-sold later. We had some hitch in setting up the cattle pound in Manauli village and have identified land in Kambali and another village and the proposal would be presented before chief minister Parkash Singh Badal next week,” he said.
Till August 15, MC had earned Rs 1,46,700 as fine from 426 cattle owners and spent Rs 2,73,138 to provide fodder to the animals. Moreover, 4,480 litre diesel had been used to run vehicles for catching stray cattle.
