Stray animals destroy city green space

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 22

The green spaces, under the elevated bridge, have turned into a shelter for stray animals which have not only destroyed the green belts but also cause traffic inconvenience near the Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs’ Memorial Civil hospital. Around 20 stray cows can be seen inside the barricaded green spaces every day.

The animals have destroyed the vegetation which was planted to beautify the area under the bridge. “The administration should get these animals shifted to some cow shelter. At times, they come out and sit on the road, causing problem to commuters,” said Kewal Kumar, a shopkeeper nearby. He said cows had made it their shelter for more than a month.

The rising number of stray cows in the city is a big trouble for the commuters. Animals feed on the rotten vegetables thrown by shopkeepers, garbage and green plants alongside the roads.

Another resident, Kultar Singh, said, “Stray animals cause road accidents, especially during night hours when they sit in the middle of the roads. Animals, too, are injured and there is a need to protect them.”

Apart from the place, a large number of stray animals can also be spotted in Putlighar, the road in front of Hindustan Basti and old Sabzi Mandi area. Generally, animals are abandoned by dairy owners when they stop yielding milk.