No end to stray cattle menace in Amritsar

Despite paying a cow cess on electricity bills, liquor purchases and on buying vehicles, residents of the city are struggling to cope with the growing menace of stray cattle on roads and streets. The Amritsar Municipal Corporation’s claims of spending crores of rupees on development programmes have not proved effective enough for controlling the menace.

According to officials, over 3,500 stray cows are roaming city areas, causing traffic jams, accidents, and even attacks on residents. Male calves deserted by farmers in rural areas are increasingly moving to urban locations in search of food, exacerbating the problem.

Dozens of stray cows can be seen on the road inside the cantonment area. Further, these can be spotted under the elevated bridge near Bhadari Bridge. Similar is the situation on the Outer Circular road near the cremation ground. Cows relishing leftovers thrown by vegetable vendors can be seen sitting in the middle of roads.

A research conducted by traffic experts at Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) earlier had highlighted the severity of the issue with several major accidents due to stray cattle being reported. Unfortunately, both residents and stray animals are being killed in road accidents.

The municipal corporation’s existing cattle shed has a limited capacity. Though the municipal corporation has approved the construction of two gaushalas to accommodate around 600 cattle in Naraingarh, more sheds are required to house other strays.

Activists have repeatedly raised concerns over the exclusion of furious bulls from cow shelters, which often results in mishaps on city roads. “The MC should also take care of bulls,” said Ravinder Mahajan, an activist, adding that the gaushala managements claim that bulls picks up a fight with cows and injure them, so they do not keep a bull in a cow shelter.

The MC’s inability to address the stray cattle issue has left residents frustrated and demanding effective solutions. As the situation continues to pose risks to both humans and animals, the authorities are under pressure to find a lasting solution.