Visitors peeved as stray dogs, cattle rule Company Bagh

Manmeet Singh Gill

Amritsar, March 1

The problem of stray animals, including cows and dogs, has reached such an extent that even the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected monument Company Bagh is in an utter state of neglect. It is evident from the fact that a large number of stray canines and cows roam freely inside park.

Though restricting entry of dogs is a difficult task, cows too seem to have found a shelter in Company Bagh where strays are safe from speeding vehicles and shopkeepers who often shoo them away. Besides, there is plenty of vegetation in park on which cows feed.

However, visitors at the park complained that the authorities concerned must make arrangements to shift all stray animals to shelter homes.

“The government is charging cow cess on vehicles, liquor and electricity. The tax collected should be utilised for the particular purpose,” said Jaswinder Singh, a local businessman. He said the government was not serious about how to tackle the problem of stray animals roaming freely on city roads.

Residents said the entry of stray animals in Company Bagh would damage whatever little greenery that was left here. They said stray animals should be shifted to a safe place.

Apart from dogs and cows, the greenery at Company Bagh is also at a threat from the alarming population of rats. Visitors say large rats can be seen roaming in the entire Company Bagh as caretakers of the park had failed to check the rodent problem.