Kozhikode corp plans permanent solution to stray cattle issue

KOZHIKODE: The sight of stray animals especially cows that obstruct the traffic on the busy city roads and create annoyance to road users will be a thing of the past, at least in the corporation limit. The civic body has decided to set up a permanent mechanism to capture wandering animals that have been creating inconvenience to pedestrians as well as drivers.
To avoid traffic problems, the corporation has started capturing stray animals and keeping them at a temporary cowshed near second gate. Authorities have decided to set up a permanent mechanism in the wake of an incident in which a porter was injured after being knocked down by a cow near Palayam vegetable market last week.
The scene of cows that roam alone and in groups on the busy city roads at S M Street, Palayam ,Kottaparamba hospital, in and around Mananchira, Nadakkavu, Eranhipalam, West Hill-Chungam junction, Karaparamba, Moffusil bus stand and Kuttichira is mundane to those in the city. These stray animals often create traffic congestions in the city.
K P Shoba, a housewife residing at West Hill-Chungam said that stray cattle are a threat to the lives of road users. “The roaming of the animals alone and in groups on the busy areas of S M Street, Palayam, Mofussil bus stand where people throng in large numbers for shopping and to purchase vegetables actually create lots of problems.
The street vendors have already occupied both sides of the roads and these animals add to the problems’’ she said.
P Ramadas, health inspector of Palayam health circle office said that they have now started capturing the stray cattle. “These cows will be transported to a shed near the second gate. We have also started imposing fine on the owners of the animals,” he said.
Meanwhile, Janamma Kunjunni, corporation health standing committee chairperson said that the civic body will carry out the renovation of the cowshed near the Second Gate. ``We have already directed all the health inspectors to catch all the roaming cattle on the streets.
The captured animals will be kept at the temporary shed till the owners arrive to take them. If the owners fail to turn up in a day or three then the civic body will auction the animals.
At present, we are imposing Rs 200 to Rs 500 as fine and the civic body is planning to increase the amount,’’ said the chairperson. She added that staff will be deployed to run the renovated shed.