NGOs seek solution to stray cattle issue

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 20

Members of various NGOs carried out a protest march over the stray cattle issue in the city. They gathered at Fire Brigade Chowk and marched up to the Municipal Corporation’s office near the city railway station and burnt an effigy of the civic body to express anger.

The protesters raised slogans against the authorities and demanded that a permanent solution to the issue should be provided.

The members started the protest march from Fire Brigade Chowk, which passed through Dhobi Bazaar, along the railway station and reached the Municipal Corporation’s head office.

The members said the NGOs had given a 10-day ultimatum to the authorities to take necessary action to resolve the problem, but the latter failed to ensure a solution in the given time-frame.

Vijay Goyal, president of the Sahara Welfare Society, said, “Owing to the stray cattle problem in the city, many lives have been lost in road accidents and the authorities do not seem to have taken a serious view of the issue. We have staged a protest march and burnt an effigy to express our displeasure over the indifferent attitude of the authorities. Stray cattle can be seen roaming both on city roads and state/national highways, posing a risk to commuters. The matter was brought to the notice of the authorities a number of times in the past, but to no avail.”

Goyal further said, “If a permanent solution to the issue is not provided, they would adopt a tougher stance and start releasing stray animals in front of the MC office and the authorities would be responsible for any untoward incident.”

Members of the Naujwan Welfare Society, Jeevan Jyoti Welfare Club, Hanuman Seva Samiti, Sahara Welfare Society and other NGOs participated in the protest march.