Stray cattle roaming on major thoroughfares and the street network in all three Action Areas of New Town has prompted the authorities to start a drive to catch them if found grazing on median dividers or straying on the roads.
Buffaloes, cows, and goats grazing in fields between highrise buildings and on median dividers are a common sight in New Town, which is surrounded by rural areas.
These animals stray onto the path of cars and bikes on the Major Arterial Road, often resulting in accidents.
On Monday, Metro spotted stray cattle roaming around 100m away from the Unitech Crossing — one of the busiest intersections in New Town.
While some were grazing on the median divider a couple were standing on the main road leading towards the Rosedale Garden Housing Complex in Action Area III.
Cars and bikes sped past the cows. One of the cows stopped grazing and stepped down from the divider causing the driver of a sedan to slam the brakes and swerve at the last minute to avoid hitting the animal.
According to a senior New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) official, they will be sending out teams trained to herd and catch stray cattle at regularly intervals to prevent accidents.
The cattle would then be transported to the NKDA-run cattle shelter.
The owners of the captured cattle will be able to get them back after paying a fine, the official said.
Till the time the cows and buffaloes are taken back by their owners they will be taken care of at the NKDA shelter which has a veterinary doctor and medical personnel who is trained to treat wounded animals.
NKDA officials have already spoken with their counterparts at the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation to ensure that jurisdiction matters don’t cause problems in the drive.
Illegal cattle sheds
In December, the New Town authorities had dismantled at least four illegal cattle sheds that had been set up on an empty piece of land behind the New Town water treatment plant behind Nazrul Tirtha.
Work is now on towards the setting up of a playground and a children’s park in the plot that measures around three bighas.
Operating cattle sheds and khatals within the limits of Calcutta is illegal, a senior NKDA official said.
According to him, the four cattle sheds housed more than 150 cows and buffaloes. Now fresh soil has already been dumped and levelled out in the plot.
A perimeter fence has already been set up and a high iron net fencing is also being placed. The entire park will also get a paved walkway and a small section will be carved out and earmarked as a children’s play zone.
The main play areas will be designed in such a way that both cricket and football matches can be organised the official added.
Play furniture such as see-saws, swings, and monkey bars will also be set up in this park and a separate zone is also on the cards for an open-air gym.
There are, however, several cowsheds in rural areas adjoining New Town including Thakdari, Patharghata, Ghuni, and REC Juani among others.