Ban no deterrent, residents rearing cattle within city limits

Tribune News Service
Amritsar, February 19

The carcasses of five cows, two oxen and a calf found on the streets of the city on Monday proved one thing. That the bovines are very much present in the city, putting to shame the ban on rearing bovines within the city limits.

Residents complain that bovines act as bottlenecks on congested roads.

Social activist Balram Kumar Sharma said, “Most of the cows and buffaloes that roam on streets are not stray animals. Their owners let them roam on roads and in green belts to feed on garbage and leftovers as they don’t want to spend on fooder.”

He claimed many locals had been clandestinely rearing cattle in their houses.

City resident Ravinder Singh said, “Small-time dairy operators are rearing animals. After milking cows and buffaloes, they release them in the city to feed on garbage strewn along roads.”

Stray cattle can be spotted at Rambagh and Lohgarh gates, New Golden Avenue, Maal Mandi and Ranjit Avenue.

Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu said, “The MC has already shifted non-milching animals to a dera at Baba Bakala. It now plans to set up a two-acre animal shelter at Fatahpur. The Durgiana Temple authorities offered Rs2 crore for it.”