With hordes of complaints pouring in on the stray cattle menace on the city roads, Ongole Municipal Corporation (OMC) is now on a mission mode to curb the menace.
One of the oldest civic bodies formed in 1878, Ongole is dotted with narrow lanes and by lanes and cattle on the loose have almost taken over the road, giving a hard time to the motorists and the minder of the traffic as well. The Ongole cattle, with their inherent aggressiveness, have made the arterial roads their home, especially in the Trunk Road and the Kurnool road area. According to a survey, as many as 500 head of cattle loiter in the streets. Apart from causing heavy traffic snarls, the cattle have frequent collision with the vehicles, inuring the motorists and themselves as well.
Taking a serious note of it, the Ongole Municipal Corporation and the city Traffic Police have now launched a special drive to move all the stray cattle to the Nallamalla forests. “Stern warnings have been issued to cattle owners not to let loose their animals onto the roads. We have impounded 70 head of cattle so far this week,” Municipal Commissioner S. Venkatakrishna told The Hindu, adding that arrangements had been made for drive the cattle to the forests abutting Giddalur from Wednesday.
“The drive has evoked a very good response from the motorists. It will continue till the city is made completely free of the menace,” said city traffic Deputy Superintendent of Police J. Ram Babu, adding that special vehicles had been engaged to transport the impounded cattle to forest.
We have impounded 70 cattle so far this week. Arrangements are in place to drive them to the forests abutting Giddalur - S. Venkatakrishna, Ongole Municipal Commissioner
