No end to stray cattle menace in Hisar

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, September 3

The stray cattle menace has again come to haunt the district authorities as the two incidents of attack of stray cattle, which led to the death of an elderly in the town, has triggered resentment among residents.

An 85-year-old man was killed when a stray cow hit him two days ago while another teenaged girl is recuperating after being attacked by the cattle in the town. Though the district administration has claimed to have made the town stray cattlefree many months ago, the residents alleged that cows roaming on the streets and markets had exposed the false claims of the authorities.

The demand to make the town cattle-free was one of the major issues during the last Assembly election in 2019. Though the administration launched several drives to catch stray cattle, it could not be successful due to the cow breeders residing in several localities in the periphery of the town.

The cattle menace has taken a toll on humans. As many as 15 persons died in road mishaps in separate incidents in about a year. Mishaps continue to occur but the MC authorities are not bothered about the issue at all, Arun Sihag, a businessman and activist in the town said.

In fact, the delay in shifting of dairies out of the town is the root cause of cattle menace. Cow breeders too leave their animals out in the open after milking them, he said adding that over 300 dairies in localities, including Multani Chowk, Vijay Nagar, Padao Mohalla, Azad Nagar, Mill Gate area, Shiv Nagar, Surya Nagar, Sainiyan Mohalla and Badwali Dhani where many people leave their cattle free after milking them every morning and evening.

Municipal Commissioner Ashok Kumar Garg sought a report from the Municipal Corporation authorities regarding the cattle menace in the town. Sources said it had come to light that the number of stray bulls and stray cows was not significant, but the cow owners who were leaving the cows in the open after milking these every day were a cause of worry for the residents.

The MC Commissioner formed teams and directed the MC authorities to catch the cows which were being left out in the open by the owners. He said t the team should also be accompanied by a police team.

However, the MC sources added that the cow owners started argument with the team of the MC and even forcibly got their cows released from the team. 

Major issue in last Assembly election

• The demand to make the town cattle-free was one of the major issues during the last Assembly polls in 2019.
• Though the administration launched several drives to catch stray cattle, these could not be successful.

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