ELURU : The nuisance of pigs is posing a threat to public health in the city. Residents of Ramachandraraopet, Ameenapet and the neighbouring Katta Subbarao Thota and Satavahana Nagar are disgruntled with the animals appearing on their doorsteps accompanied by filth and stink.

The Tammileru river bunds have turned out to be a home for the pigs. The owners of the animals in Tangellamudi, Kothapet and Nawabpet areas allegedly let the pigs into the city after sunset where they roam along the Tammileru, feeding and resting, till they are taken back before daybreak.

Handling this menace has become a frustrating task for the Eluru Municipal Corporation (EMC) authorities. The officials are supposed to follow procedure by applying to the police for a shooter. But cruder methods, like the use of batons are used to control the problem. The pig owners are allegedly tipped off before the launch of a swoop and they take precautions to upset the attempts of the EMC. A housewife from Ramachandraraopet has reportedly complained to the EMC thrice on the issue but no results have come yet.

Twin concerns

The city Mayor, Kare Babu Rao, said efforts by the EMC to find an alternative pig-rearing site is yet to take a shape in view of the reluctance of the pig owners.

The twin issues of conflicting nature— livelihood concerns of pig owners belonging to the Erukula tribe on the one hand and public health hazards on the other— seem to stare the EMC in the face whenever it embarks on solving the problem.

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