• KMC earned Rs 104,600 by auctioning off stray cattle in the fiscal 2016/17

Kathmandu, April 18

The menace of stray cattle is back on the streets, although Kathmandu Metropolitan City claims that it rescues them on a weekly basis.

Stray cattle can be seen loitering on the streets, obstructing vehicular movement and foraging on green belts, parks, traffic islands and garbage. This has increased the risk of road accidents.

Traffic police officials say stray cattle are to blame for at least one per cent of road accidents.

“We have been rescuing stray cattle every week, but we face problems feeding the animals until they are auctioned,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Bishnu Prasad Joshi.

The cattle rescued from the streets often do not meet the quarantine standards and are hence not allowed to be transported. “People, therefore, are not interested in buying such cattle,” added Joshi.

According to KMC, it rescued 280 stray cattle and earned Rs 104,600 in the fiscal 2016/17.

Similarly, KMC caught 140 animals from mid-June to mid-April in the fiscal 2017/18 and earned Rs 47,500 by auctioning them. The minimum rate for auctioning an animal is Rs 200.

Abandoned cattle on the streets include male bovine, cows that have stopped giving milk and calf. “Owners leave their cattle on the roads at night.

Despite our efforts, we have never been able to find these owners and re,” said Joshi.

Kathmandu Metropolitan City has prioritised Ratnapark-Sundhara-Jamal road section, Araniko Highway, Gaushala, Tripureshwor-Maharajgunj and Putalisadak-Baluwatar stretch to make the areas free from stray cattle.