VIJAYAWADA: Addressing the many complaints that have poured into the VMC regarding the accidents and inconveniences caused by stray cattle here, the civic body on Sunday said it would serve notices on the owners of over 1,300 animals roaming the streets.
After receiving complaints from residents of green spaces and parks being damaged by the animals, the VMC officials have arrived at this decision. Stray cattle have not only been the reason for traffic jams in congested places but also posed a threat to both motorists and pedestrians in places like the stretch between Satyanarayanapuram and BRTS Road, Krishnalanka, Gandhi Nagar, Kedareswarapet, Kothapet and Samarang Chowk area in One Town.
According to the information available with the VMC officials, there are around 1,300 stray animals including cows, calves and buffaloes. In the first phase, special teams formed by the civic body would serve notices to the cattle owner for letting them out in the open. As part of the drive, the officials would also slap heavy fine of `5,000 on owners of cows and buffaloes if they failed to address the notices served by the VMC.
“Despite instructing cattle owners to keep their animals safe, they are repeatedly letting them out on roads leading to traffic congestion at major junction across the city. Besides causing traffic jams, the poor animals are often involved in mishaps, injuring themselves as well as the motorists’, said VMC assistant veterinary surgeon A Sridhar.
The drive would be conducted on a regular basis in the next two to three months. “Our team will seize the cattle if we find the domestic animal on the streets. If the owners fail to reclaim the cattle within a particular period, they will be handed over to the organic farmers and Goshalas, after taking their photographs,” Sridhar said. The civic body has also convened a meeting with the organic farmers in this regard. However the Goshala maintainers in the city are unaware of the drive being conducted by the VMC but have expressed their willingness to cooperate.
VMC drive to control stray cattle menace
1,300 stray animals including cows, calves and buffaloes roam on the streets, causing utter chaos and traffic jams at busy junctions.
R 5,000 fine on cattle owners who let their animals roam on roads.
Special teams formed by VMC will serve notices to the cattle owner for letting them out in the open