Call for better control of stray cattle menace in Khadki

PUNE, May 15: While some cattle owners preferred to sell off their stock rather than face the ire of the Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) autho...

PUNE, May 15: While some cattle owners preferred to sell off their stock rather than face the ire of the Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) authorities who decided to impose an extraordinarily heavy fine on stray cattle, the problem continues unabated in some parts of the cantonment.

Taking strong exception to the cattle nuisance during peak traffic hours, Col. Vilas Deogirikar, general manager (P&A) on behalf of the commandant of 512 Army Base Workshop has urged the cantonment board to impose proper timings for the entry of cattle on the main road.

Distressed by the death of a woman caused by the stray cattle menace at the Sanjay Gandhi Vegetable Market, the cantonment board had decided to increase fines on stray cattle from the existing rates of Rs. 150 to Rs. 500. As a result, of the 250 stray cattle in the cantonment, about 80 per cent were reported to have been sold off by the owners to escape the heavy fine.

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Moreover, although the situation at the Sanjay Gandhi Vegetable Market has improved considerably, there appeared to be no restrictions on the movement of cattle on the roads.

In his letter to the cantonment board, Col. Deogirikar explained that the cattle nuisance during the peak traffic hours caused hardship to thousands of workers and commuters of 512 Army Base Workshop. He requested that cattle entry on the main road should be restricted from Monday to Friday between 0745 hours to 0815 hours and 1545 hours to 1615 hours and on Saturday between 0745 hours to 0815 hours and 1315 hours to 1345 hours for the smooth flow of traffic as has been done in the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB). The issue is expected to be discussed at the cantonment board meeting to be held shortly.

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