Bhubaneswar: After citizen reporters in the city raised concerns over the growing stray cattle menace on Bhubaneswar’s roads, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) assured on Monday that it would resolve the issue by creating more space to house the animals. The BMC is setting up a fodder farm, a cattle hospital, and a goshala on a 25-acre site at Jamukoli on the outskirts of the city.Residents said the stray cattle menace has plagued them for several months, with cattle occupying not only main roads but also bylanes and thoroughfares, posing a serious risk of accidents.“It is very difficult to manoeuvre two-wheelers as stray cattle block the roads, leaving no room to pass. Sometimes they fight on the road, causing safety hazards. Children cannot ride bicycles due to the danger,” said Lipika Swain, a homemaker from the Nayapalli area.Sources said many dairy businessmen in the city abandon their cattle, leading to not just traffic problems but also sanitation issues for pedestrians.“In the monsoon season, water accumulates in potholes and on roads. With cows defecating on the roads, the situation becomes messy and unhygienic, with a foul smell everywhere. Cattle munching on garbage and plastics is another serious issue that must be addressed,” said Jatin Sahu, a resident of GGP Colony.Responding to the complaints, Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das said, “We have been taking steps to reduce the number of stray cattle on roads. A stray-catching squad picks up cows daily and houses them at the cattle welfare centre in Jamukoli. BMC plans to increase the number of such centres and improve facilities for the animals. We have also been urging cattle owners not to abandon their animals. Plans are underway to set up a cattle hospital and fodder plant at Jamukoli.“BMC sources added that a proposal had been submitted to the state govt seeking unused open space between Cuttack and Bhubaneswar for constructing another cattle shelter. “But the proposal is gathering dust,” Das said.Currently, the BMC has the capacity to house only 800 stray cattle across its various cattle welfare shelters.
