Sunday, November 30, 2014

NOVEMBER 2014


Bovine, canine and simian nuisance in Braj Mandal
STRAY ANIMALS MAKE LIFE HELL FOR PADESTRIANS
 
 
Mathura/Vrindavan
 
Stray cows, dogs and red-faced monkeys have made life hell for residents of Braj mandal. From Vrindavan to Mathura and Gokul, and from Goverdhan to Barsana, the bovine, canine and simian nuisance is causing alarm after a series of attacks on women and children. The pilgrims are not safe. Even the president of India was advised to be careful with his spectacles while visiting the Bankey Bihari temple in Vrindavan on November 16. For days the locals watched with amusement the war between langurs, monkeys and the animal rights activists who had the last laugh.
 
The local residents complain that despite numerous complaints to authorities neither the UP Forest Department nor the municipal authorities have shown any interest to contain the growing menace of stray animals on roads and the exploding simian population that has made life difficult for everyone.
 
 
According to the rules the monkeys can attack humans but humans  can't kill or shoot them, says a harassed resident of Vrindavan Nandan Das. A Forest department official said "we have no funds for these activities. Moreover when you can't kill the monkeys where would you keep them?"
 
On every road crossing one can see dozens of stray animals, old or sterile cows merrily grazing away, an injured donkey or dozens of dogs chasing you wildly and if you manage to escape safely the waiting monkeys will pounce upon you from the tree tops or balconies, often snatching away glasses or the bags.
 
The nuisance is now unbearable, say people in Vrindavan. "You can't freely move around the terrace, or keep flower pots. Children and women in particular are the target of these marauding monkeys, says Kunj Bihari. The monkeys start their journey a little after dawn and take the circuitous route jumping from one terrace to another or running across streets to settle on the Yamuna ghats where they hang around the whole day running and attacking people. The return journey in the evening is equally devastating for the residents of these mohallas.
 
"In the planned colonies or the multi storeyed buildings the simian nuisance is not so alarming, because the houses are separated," points out Mathura resident Anand Agarwal. In Goverdhan monkeys are a nuisance all along the parikrama route, and around Mansi Ganga holy pond. In Vrindavan, there's hardly a lane without armies of simians who are thoroughly trained to target pilgrims wearing specs which are returned only in exchange for a pack of Parle G biscuits. "Now some groups are hooked to Crackjack and Fruiti," says chaiwalla Rakesh at Keshi Ghat.
 
The simian problem got compounded after the ban on export of monkeys for research investigations. "Hundreds  of people are bitten by dogs and monkeys every year and the hospitals rarely have adequate supplies of rabies vaccines," explains social activist Laxmi Gautam.
 
Can anything be done to contain the menace of stray animals?  "Yes, since one can not kill animals here, they should either be captured and released in the jungles or sterilised to check their population," says Naresh Kadian, animal rights activist.
 
"Some years ago, the divisional forest department in Agra had worked out a plan to shift monkeys from Braj area to Terai or Chitrakoot, but Maneka Gandhi opposed the move. Since then no one dares to even think of addressing this serious problem," recalls Nandan Shrotriya, a priest of Mathuradheesh ji temple on Yamuna Kinara road.

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