Cattle captured by AMC may soon be back on roads

S S Khandwawala. Currently,there are nearly 630 cows in the custody of AMC,which captures nearly 50 stray cows every day in two shifts.

Deputy municipal commissioner Dilip Gor said that cows around this time of the year were released as a matter of routine,but this year it might be with some difference and subject to final decision of the standing committee. “It will be up to the political wing to decide what to do about this,” he said. He further said that this year AMC would not release cows en masse but would ask the claimants to identify their animals and take them away.

Standing committee chief Asit Vora said,“We normally release cows after charging fine. But on Janmashtami,they will be released free of charge.” When pointed out that the police would act tough on the cattle menace,he said AMC on its part would intensify the drive. He would not agree that setting all cows free would render the drive futile. “We release cows only on certain occasions,otherwise we free them with conditions.”

Khandwawala said he had asked the commissioners of police to intensify the drive against stray cows and that the police would do its bit. He said he would ask the civic body and his officers to ensure that the cattle released on Janmashtami do not cause problem.

A Jain leader and cow protector in AMC said cows could not be set free in view of court orders. To pacify animal lovers,some would be released while others would be consigned to privately-run cattle pounds.