KILLING FIELDS: Ongole municipality workers carrying the carcass of an animal they have killed on Thursday.

ONGOLE: Ongole municipality shot dead 80 stray pigs here today in a bid to maintain some semblance of public health.

The municipality engaged the services of 20 persons belonging to Nakkala community in Nellore, who have expertise to kill stray pigs and dogs.

Carrying country made guns, they went round the town killing the pigs.

The pig rearers, who have been violating the High Court orders to confine the animals to their premises, came round and sought the mercy of the health officials.

They agreed to export them to Bangalore for sale in the next couple of days.

Huge profits

Pig menace assumed alarming proportions in the town as 70-80 persons, belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, are rearing about 10,000 animals. They sell away the grown up ones in Bangalore to make a huge profits. The trade has become so lucrative that other castes too have taken up the profession.

The municipality has been fighting a losing battle with the rearers to ensure that they do not let out the animals. They also refused to shift the stock to the outskirts of the town limits and went to High Court.

The High Court in its judgement two months ago directed the municipality to provide alternative sites, five kilometers away from the town limits, within six months . It also directed the pig rearers to confine the animals to their premises until then.

But the pig rearers continue to let out the animals much to the chagrin of the residents.

A large number of complaints related to stray pig menace were aired during the Prajapadham programme.

Last resort

As all the measures failed, the authorities resorted to the extreme step of killing the pigs to maintain public health.

Municipal Commissioner Challa Anuradha said that the drive against stray pigs would continue for one week.

She said efforts are being made to acquire five acres of land in Survey Reddypalem for shifting the animals.

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