The Tiruchi Corporation on Thursday launched a drive to impound stray pigs roaming around in public places in the city, especially in and around Ariyamangalam, which has gained notoriety for pig rearing over the years.
Over 150 pigs were impounded in a day-long drive in and around Ariyamangalam, covering Mela Ambikapuram, Keezha Ambikapuram, Anna Nagar, Cauvery Nagar, Rail Nagar, Rajappa Nagar, Thideer Nagar, and Pon Muthunagar. According to sources, the contractor engaged to carry out the task had brought a team of about 20 persons from Madurai for the operation. Armed with huge nets, the team went around Ariyamangalam area capturing the pigs. The captured pigs were loaded onto trucks to be taken away from the city.
The long-pending move comes after persistent demands from city residents, welfare organisations, and even elected representatives, who have been highlighting the health hazards posed by the presence of a large number of stray pigs in public places. Though the corporation has been making efforts off and on to impound the pigs, the menace has largely gone uncontrolled.
The drive also comes in the wake of the recent murder of an AIADMK functionary, who is said to have been engaged in large scale pig rearing in the Ariyamangalam area. Concerns have been aired, including from the police, over the internecine quarrels and rivalry between groups involved in the business resulting in criminal activity.
Commissioner K.Veera Raghava Rao has announced that the drive will continue for the next fortnight in the city. He also said the corporation would take up a drive to check the stray cattle menace in the city, and appealed to the city residents not to let out their animals to public places.
