The city’s burgeoning stray cattle population and the inability of the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) to tackle the menace is posing a serious threat to the lives of the people in Jaipur. The number of stray animals is increasing with every passing day not only on main roads, but also on the lanes of various colonies across the city. The state capital Jaipur is infested with menace of stray monkeys, dogs and bulls followed by cows. Many people rear cows in their homes and then push them out of the house after milking them. These cows then sit on roads, eat garbage and often injure the pedestrians. In November 2017, an Argentine tourist Juan Pablo was gored to death by a stray bull in Chaura Raasta area of Walled City after which the JMC had stepped up its drive to catch stray animals. The dairies running in the Walled City were shifted while the cattle were sent to the gaushalas.
The corporation had formed four teams to make the city stray cattle free on June 20 which were supposed to work 24/7 and each team had two incharge and the four team had 32 men.
These teams were given a target to catch 60-80 stray cattle daily and till date they had to catch 4,800 stray animals.Sadly since then these four teams have not been to catch even a thousand cattle.
According to JMC sources, whenever the teams step out to catch the stray cattle, the people of the area come out to protest against the move and thus the team is forced to return empty handed.
The officials say that if a police team accompanies them during the drive then it will be easy for the JMC team to catch the cattle. An officials said that for this the Corporation has written to the police department on numerous occasions to post 3-4 cops with the JMC team but so far nothing has happened in this regard.
According to mayor Ashok Lahoti to make the city cattle free the JMC has the means to catch the stray cattle but does not have proper area to keep the cattle once they are caught. The number of cattle at Hingoniya Gaushala has reached 25,000 from 8,000 and on top of this stray cattle too are brought from outside. As the gaushala has cattle more than the capacity, so they refuse to accommodate the stray cattle. Under such circumstances, land is being sought for a gaushala in Sikar and Ajmer road.
According to sources, at present over, 35,000 stray cattle are roaming on the streets of the state capital while the teams formed by JMC are unable to catch them. Under such circumstances, only time will tell how the JMC will manage to make the city cattle free.
THE HURDLE
- According to Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) sources, whenever the teams step out to catch the stray cattle, the people of the area come out to protest against the move and thus the team is forced to return empty handed.
- The officials say that if a police team accompanies them during the drive then it will be easy for the JMC team to catch the cattle.
- An officials said that for this the corporation has written to the police department on numerous occasions to post 3-4 cops with the JMC team but so far nothing has happened in this regard.
