The Times of India 30.08.2010
PCMC starts drive to control stray animal menace
PUNE: The veterinary department of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has started a drive to control stray animals ahead of the festive season.
PCMC veterinary officer Satish Gore said, “The drive to catch stray animals like bullocks, cows, buffaloes, donkeys, sheep, goats, camels, among others, will be on till the Navratri festival to avoid inconvenience to vehicular traffic. The animals caught during the drive will not be released during the Ganesh festival.”
Gore said, “The drive to catch stray cattle had slowed down for some time as one of the vehicles was undergoing repairs. The vehicle has been repaired and the drive has resumed with full force again.”
He added, “These animals get violent during the festive season due to the large crowds and heavy vehicular traffic. The drive will be implemented on a large scale to avoid any accidents due to animals. The work will be carried out late in the night to avoid traffic disturbances.”
“The animals that we catch loitering on the roads are mostly owned by villagers. The owne rs of the animals should not allow the animals to move unattended,” said Gore.
He further said, “Theses animals are kept in the cattle pound at Nehrunagar in Pimpri. An average of 400 animals are caught and kept at the pound every year. At present there are more than 40 animals in the pound, including cows, bulls and donkeys.”
He added, “The charges and fine of feeding these animals are Rs 37 per cattle/calf, Rs 47 per heifer, Rs 67 per adult heifer, Rs 75 per buffalo, Rs 115 per camel, Rs 31 per sheep/goat, Rs 57 per horse and Rs 31 per donkey. The PCMC is equipped with a cattle carriage van with a hydraulic system, which helps in smooth and comfortable loading and unloading of animals.”
Stray animals can be seen on some of the major roads like Pimpri-Chinchwad link road, near Nigdi, Kharalwadi and other areas on the Pune-Mumbai highway and also in Sangvi, New Sangvi, Chinchwad.
Speaking to TOI, Amit Jadhav, a resident of Chinchwad said, “Stray cattle can be seen every day on the Pimpri-Chinchwad link road near Bhatnagar obstructing vehicular traffic. PCMC should catch these stray animals as they obstruct the smooth flow of vehicular traffic.”
