Monkey biz makes langurs lakhpatis in UP

AGRA: In monkey-infested Agra, it pays to be a langur, it seems. Ask Raju, Mangal, Pawan, Manu and their friends -- all langurs -- who have been hired at a package of almost Rs 1.5 lakh per annum each by the Railways to get rid of monkeys from four major railway stations of Agra division. With a tidy two-year-contract under their tail, six of these traditional monkey-scarers are set to earn a cumulative Rs 9 lakh per annum for their efforts.
Speaking to TOI, Bhupinder Dhillon, media-in-charge of Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Agra office, said, “Monkeys were creating a big menace by climbing overhead railway cables. Often, they would get electrocuted and their bodies would get stuck on the cable, bringing railway operations to a halt. Due to the increase in the number of such incidents, the engineering department decided that it was best to hire six langurs.”
According to sources, large colonies of monkeys have sprung up near the four railway stations in the area -- Agra cantonment, Agar Fort, Raja Ki Mandi, and Mathura. The langurs, under the supervision of their handlers, would guard these stations as well as the DRM office. They will work in shifts of 12 hours starting from seven in the morning. Their duties would involve constant patrolling of the stations to ensure that monkeys are kept at bay and passengers are not harassed by the simians.
An official has also been deputed to monitor the performance of the langurs, who would be required to record their attendance on a daily basis. If they are found absent, said an official, around Rs 400 will be deducted from their salary.