With the onset of rainy season, stray cattle have once again returned on Steel City roads, exposing unsuccessful attempts by the Bhilai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in addressing the cattle menace. Apparently, the civic authorities have failed to check the menace of and stray animals on roads, leading to regular traffic jams, especially during peak hours. With onset of monsoon, stray cattle sitting on the middle of the roads are one of the common sights that pedestrians and commuters come across these days. These animals often bring the flow of traffic on busy roads to a standstill along with major road mishaps. According to information, the problem complicates during the rainy season as the roads becomes slippery because of filth caused by these cattle. With city roads already battered by heavy rains, cow conferences only seem to be adding to traffic woes.

 

There is hardly any road which is free of stray cattle, weather be it dense localities like Supela, Ramnagar, Khurispar, Chowni and Kohka or any posh wards like Nehru Nagar, Junwani or Bhilai Township etc, the problem is everywhere. If residents are to be believed that most of these stray cows have been cast off by their owner’s because they are now aged and stopped giving milk. Despite strict rules have been made against the owners who leave their animals loitering in the city roads, no positive impact is visible of the strict guidelines.

 

As, some of the cattle byre owners are said to be backed by public representatives especially ward corporators and hence they throw rules to the wind and let their livestock roam on the roads for grazing and feeding. Ever since rains stormed the city, cattle can be seen huddled, sometimes in a circle, right in the middle of crowded areas like veggie markets, bus stop and especially near the traffic crossings other arterial roads of the city. However, the BMC authority has admitted that stray cattle menace is back and claimed that they have already started measures to curtail it.