As straying, napping cattle dictate traffic

BBMP, traffic cops still talk about intensifying measures

Bad roads and increasing vehicle population are not the only problems commuters face every day. Straying and napping cattle are a menace for commuters and the traffic police alike.

The traffic police department wrote to the BBMP to have cattle removed from roads three years ago. Though the BBMP assured to handle the situation, nothing has changed.
Owners leave their cattle after milking them to feed themselves. They come on to the roads and pose a threat to commuters. The traffic police and the BBMP seize cattle and penalise owners, but owners let them out again.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), M A Saleem told Deccan Herald that they have pointed this out to the BBMP in all coordination meetings. After road safety week, starting from January 09, another meeting will be held with the BBMP to resolve this issue permanently.

Everyday, the traffic police lead around four animals to nearby sheds, apart from managing traffic and penalising offenders. There are also instances where they help the BBMP put stray cattle into cow-catching vehicles, Saleem said.

According to the BBMP and the traffic police, most problematic areas are KR Market, Majestic, Madiwala, Frazer Town, main roads in the City outskirts like Magadi Road, Mysuru Road, Kanakapura Road and Hennur. It is also a menace in some parts of old Bengaluru, where people prefer fresh milk.

Dr Maheshwara Gowda, Joint Director (Animal Husbandry Department), BBMP, accepted that the problem was severe and there was a need to intensify measures. “As and when the BBMP comes across straying cattle or based on people’s complaints they are removed. But it needs to be intensified. We cannot remove them from the City and outskirts as this is a source of income for many,” he said.

BBMP is planning to increase the penalty amount on owners to Rs 1,000. Presently the fine amount for large animals is Rs 600 and Rs 300 for calves. BBMP has five hydraulic cattle catching machines operating in the City and there is a proposal to purchase more.

Gowda said according to 2012 Animal Husbandry Department census, there were 31,000 cattle. This would have come down now by 30 per cent due to increasing urbanisation. From January till December, 2015, the BBMP seized 601 cattle. BBMP’s authorised cattle shed is near Usman Khan Road. The BBMP has no records of the goshalas and private sheds belonging to various animal welfare organisations.