As part of the special drive to make the city roads safe, the Public Health wing of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation seized 10 stray cattle from the roads of Hanumanpet and Panja Centre on Wednesday.
They were shifted to the cattle shed set up by the VMC near the new fish market in New Rajarajeswari Pet.
So far, the teams led by Veterinary Assistant Surgeon Dr. A. Sridhar conducted three drives and seized 20 cattle.
“On Wednesday, two of the 10 cows seized were claimed by owners. We took written undertaking and handed over the cows to them,” Dr. Sridhar said.
He said the unclaimed animals would be handed over to a goshala or farmers practising cow-based farming after a week. A fine of ₹1,000 had been imposed on the owners whose cattle were found straying on the roads for the second time, he said.
There are about 1,600 stray cattle in the corporation limits and 80% of them are owned by people who do not possess even a small piece of land. They make most of the animals but set them free on the roads causing serious traffic issues, he added.
Attacks against staff
Meanwhile, the staff are facing hardship as people claiming ownership are resorting to attacks instead of formally approaching higher authorities. The drive would be organised on Thursday also.
