Stray animal on Highway: Threat to drivers, JMC sleeping

Stray animal on Highway: Threat to drivers, JMC sleeping Nitesh Sangral JAMMU, Aug 12: The influx of stray animal on highway has become a major threat for the drivers as they are facing risk of accidents, due to unexpected appearance of these animals before their vehicles. Pertinently, it is a major problem being faced by the commuters these days at every nook and corner of the city. The solution to the problem is to take strict action against the owners of pets, which are found astray. Animal shelters should be built for such animals and a massive awareness drive on this subject should be launched. There are only two functional cattle ponds in the city, the proposal to set up a modern facility in Dili area on the outskirts of Jammu was shelved after the locals objected to the JMC’s move and non-availability of sufficient land at the site. Source said that the two cattle ponds at Rehari and Gandhi Nagar have capacity of 15 and 20 cattle respectively and they are filled to capacity most of the times. Therefore, the staff to release the captured animals within hours back on roads for want of space. He further said tht the most dangerous among stray animals are dogs because they are unsterilised and carriers of serious health problems such as rabies. Similarly, stray animals like cow, buffalo, and cats which keep roaming freely on the roads cause threat to moving vehicles. They not only slow down the traffic but also cause road accidents as the two wheelers lose their balance by applying sudden breaks to avoid collision with them. “See stray animals loitering around and even occupying the middle of the road. This disrupts traffic flow and often leads to traffic jams. Many times, animals have become a major hazard on the city roads, as they have caused many a accident. Easily find such stray animals moving around the main Chowks of the city like Purani Mandi, Parade, Panjthirthi, Bikram Chowk and Shalamar. The Jammu Municipal Corporation’s (JMC) anti-animal squad has captured these cattle several times but in absence of any facility to keep them they release them later and these again flock the roads, particularly the national highway. JMC officials says, they are not getting proper cooperation from the general public. They appeal the people to extend their full cooperation in dealing with the menace.