Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

`Mobile speed-breakers'

By Our Staff Reporter

Stray cattle obstructing traffic at Velampeta in the one-town area of Visakhapatnam . — Photo: K. R. Deepak

VISAKHAPATNAM, JAN.25. In the urban environment with its shining multi-storeyed complexes and gleaming new four-wheelers, cattle are an odd sight. The daily quota of milk is delivered on the doorstep and cattle are generally confined to the backlanes.

As a result, cattle have earned the sobriquet of `mobile speed-breakers' when they are on the road. And there are several of them in the city. It's difficult to drive with cattle around.

There were instances of drivers getting confounded by cattle and meeting with accidents.

It is estimated the 100 to 200 families raise milch cattle in several areas of the city, including the one Town area, China Waltair, MVP Colony, Malkapuram, NAD Kotha Road, Marripalem, and Saketnagar.

Action

Action is taken against the owners if their cattle stray on to the thoroughfares, cause unhygienic conditions or if they are tethered on the roadside.

According to the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon of the Municipal Corporation, N. Karunakar, about 150 to 200 cases are booked every month. The cattle caught for straying or other violations are kept in the impounding shed near the Sewage Farm. A fine of Rs. 300 is levied for each cattlehead caught.

The annual earnings are between Rs. 5 lakhs to Rs. 6 lakhs. By a tender process an agency is finalised which employs men and vehicles to round off the cattle.

But rearing cattle being a part of economies of several families, it will be a long time before one can think of the whole stock shifting to organised dairying.

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