The problem of stray cattle is not new to Noida but the number of stray cattle in the sector has rapidly gone up. As per the Noida Authority, there are nearly 2,000 stray cows and bulls on the streets of the city. Animal activists, however, peg the number at around 5,000 based on a rough estimate. Both officials and animal welfare organisations associate the rising number of stray cattle with the practice of abandonment by their owners because of old age and diseases. Another reason is that during the daytime, the caretakers/owners conveniently let the herd out to wander around the roads and lanes of the sector. This serves the purpose of easy food for the cattle in the form of grass, bushes, leaves of trees and the occasional food or fodder given by people. The stray cattle can sometimes be dangerous to passersby as they can hit them. Old residents and children are often scared to venture out alone as they are scared of these ferocious-looking bulls. Some videos of bulls tossing people into the air and attacking people with their horns that are roaming around on social media aggravate this fear. Also in addition to spoiling the planted trees and grass, their presence becomes a hindrance to vehicular movement on the road. The innocent animals, oblivious to the problem created by them, sometimes rest in the middle of the roads or scratch their backs at the signage on the road; blocking it from view.
There are certain accident-prone areas in our sector where the presence of cattle has made commuting unsafe. The roads are narrow and there are plenty of U-turns and diversions. Cattle suddenly appear out of nowhere, leading to accidents resulting in the driver and cattle both getting injured. The Stray bulls seem to love the sector. They frequent it so often that they are a common sight for residents. Whether it’s the garbage dumped here and there or the easy access into the Sector, whatever the reason stray cattle feel at home here. The hindsight, however, is that the incumbent authorities must be questioned on this issue of stray cattle roaming around even after strict orders from the State Government to ensure all stray cattle are removed from the streets and put into proper shelters. . If they (cattle) have life, that they have, they’ll move around, as every living creature does. If they feel hungry, they’ll search for food. Unfortunately, animals cannot venture into fancy restaurants to order a sumptuous meal for their delectation. They are forced to stick around filthy trash dumps to sift for their diet and in the process many times eating plastic that eventually kills these poor cattle. This mismanagement of the authorities cannot be attributed to cattle. It’s for the sector management and administration to orchestrate. They are liable to be held accountable for this negligence.
Animal activists point out that cattle or bulls are extremely sensitive animals with immense composure and tranquillity unless explicitly provoked. Their sentience is straightforwardly noticeable from a wise glance at them. No wonder they are a manifestation of the incarnation- Nandi, Lord Shiva’s devotee bullock, as depicted in Hindu mythology. The only delusion people incubate about them is their physique. The grandiosity of their mammoth build is intimidating, but they are usually harmless. Anyone, who has been around animals, can vouch for that.
The District Administration and the Noida Authority must take some concrete measures to curb this issue. Firstly census and tagging of reared cattle must be done and the tags must contain serial numbers that link the cattle with their owners. If such cattle are found roaming on the streets unattended, their owners must be penalised. Secondly in case of abandoned animals they must be shifted to proper shelters made for them where they can lead a comfortable life because as Gandhi said “ The greatness of a Nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”.
