Kathmandu Valley gradually becoming capital of stray cattle

Kathmandu, July 4

Stray cattle wandering along the ring road areas often disturb traffic movement in Kathmandu Valley.

The stray cattle not only create traffic problems, but their dung has rendered the capital city dirty and ugly.

According to Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the highest number of stray cattle were seen along the ring road area from Balkhu to Koteshwor and core areas like Baneshwor, Thapathali and Kalimati, among others. Implementation Department of KMC said their efforts to manage stray cattle had been in vain.

A five-member team of KMC collects the stray cattle once or twice a week. “Though we have been capturing, selling and auctioning the stray cattle since more than a decade, the number of such animals never seems to decrease,” Dhanapati Sapkota, Chief at Implementation Department said.

KMC said at least 125 households in Kathmandu owned cattle with three to 14 cattle in each household. There are altogether around 1,300 cattle in the Valley. KMC has been auctioning around 500 stray cattle every year.

Sapkota added that the matter had turned worse after 21 municipalities of Kathmandu Valley showed apathy towards managing stray cattle. “Only KMC captures and manages the stray cattle out of 22 municipalities. The other municipality offices do not feel that it’s their responsibility to manage stray cattle,” he said.

The valley’s stray cattle comprise 95 per cent old cows and oxen, and five per cent calves. Spokesperson at KMC Gyanendra Karki said KMC was preparing to draft a strong policy to discourage owners from letting their animal loose. “A policy with stringent rules and punishment should be framed for cattle owners who let their animals loose,” he said.