Sambalpur: Streets of Sambalpur Taken Over by Cows, Causing Frequent Accidents, Uncertainty Over ‘Milk Colony’ Project
Sambalpur: The streets of Sambalpur city are now dominated by cows. Many streets remain dark due to non-functional streetlights, and cows lie on the roads in the darkness. During power outages caused by rain and wind, drivers, especially bikers, face accidents as they fail to see the cows lying on the roads. Four-wheeler drivers also encounter numerous issues due to this. Accidents are happening on various national highways passing through Sambalpur due to stray cows. Sometimes drivers lose their lives, while other times, the cows die from collisions with heavy vehicles. Citizens attribute this problem to the authorities’ lax actions and the lack of cowsheds in the municipal area.
Owners Abandon Cows After Milk Production Stops
The main issue in the Sambalpur city area has now become the presence of cows on the streets. Many owners abandon their cows on the streets after they stop giving milk. No action is being taken against such owners. Additionally, the cattle pound has been shut down. Taking advantage of this, owners release their cows onto the streets. Cows lie on the roads, and their droppings make the roads slippery, causing accidents for two-wheeler riders.
Environmental and Health Risks in Populated Areas
There are over 30 cowsheds in and around Sambalpur which keep cows and buffaloes. Some owners keep them on their own property, while others have encroached upon public land. Cowsheds in densely populated areas increase the risk of environmental pollution and disease transmission, such as malaria. Cowsheds can be found in Daleipada, Charbhati, Talbhatapada, Chandannagar, A.N. Guha Lane, Gopalmal, Badabazar, and Govindatola, among other places.
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According to departmental data, the 2012 census counted approximately 8,500 cows in the Sambalpur municipal area and surroundings. This number has now increased significantly. Previously, stray cows were relocated to “Cattle Island” on the Mahanadi River island, but this practice has been stopped.
Accidents on Key Roads Due to Stray Cows
Drivers are facing accidents on roads like Ainthapali-Bareipali-Remed Road and Dhanupali-Bhatra Road due to cows lying on the streets. Residents demand that these cows be kept in various cowsheds in the city. Following the relocation of the Shri Krishna Goshala in Badabazar under the “Samaleswari” plan, there were demands to reopen the cattle pound by the municipal administration, but no action has been taken so far.
Municipal Commissioner Promises New Cowsheds
When asked about this, Municipal Commissioner Vedbhushan said the government has plans to establish several cowsheds. Steps will be taken according to the instructions. A land near IIM Sambalpur has been identified, which will be fenced and developed into a cow shed. Work is ongoing at that site. All stray cows will be relocated there and monitored. The municipal corporation will provide funds for this. Stray cows are often caught, and they are taken to cowsheds run by the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department. The Shri Krishna Goshala in Badabazar has now been relocated to Mundoghat, he added.
Uncertain Future for ‘Milk Colony’ Project
During the tenure of the then Sambalpur District Collector Balwant Singh, there was a plan to establish a “Milk Colony” on 30 acres in the Goshala-Basantpur area. The plan was to relocate all cowsheds in the city area to that location and provide a single place for families involved in dairy farming, along with a system for collecting milk daily from them. Grass cultivation on several acres in that area would have provided fodder for the cows. There were also plans for other related businesses in the future. This was primarily under the jurisdiction of the District Animal Husbandry Department. However, after the transfer of Mr. Singh, the “Milk Colony” project has been shelved. There is now uncertainty about when it will become operational.
