The Uttar Pradesh government is planning to place ‘fluorescent strips’ on stray animals to reduce the risk of road accidents caused due to them at night. Officials of Animal Husbandry department said that the aim of this initiative is to increase visibility for drivers, thereby preventing collisions and protecting the lives of both humans as well as animals.
According to reports, ‘fluorescent strips’ will be applied on the horns and necks of stray animals. These highly reflective strips will be illuminated by ‘headlights’ of vehicle, making the animals easily visible in low light conditions. Thus, accidents caused by these animals on the roads will be checked to a great extent.
Animal Husbandry Department Director P N Singh said the scheme is in its final stage of planning and is expected to get approval soon. Singh said, “The proposal has been under discussion for the last two weeks and it has also been shared with the concerned minister for final approval.”
The Animal Husbandry Department will work as the nodal agency for implementation of this project. This measure of ‘fluorescent’ strip is part of a comprehensive plan to tackle the problem of stray animals in state.
UP has 15 lakh stray animals, 12 lakh in animal shelters, 3 lakh managed by marginal families
According to official records, Uttar Pradesh currently has about 15 lakh stray animals, of which about 12 lakh are kept in animal shelters. The remaining three lakh stray animals are partially managed by marginal families under the participation scheme. These families get a maximum of Rs 1,500 per month per animal for fodder. A family can participate in the scheme with a maximum of four cattle.
Experts blame several factors for the problem of stray animals in Uttar Pradesh. A primary reason is the lack of proper animal husbandry practices, which leads to uncontrolled breeding and abandonment of animals.
Additionally, strict government rules regarding animal slaughter, including a complete ban on cow slaughter, have also been cited as a major factor that leads farmers to abandon their cattle after their productive age.
The stray cattle issue has also become a political topic, with the opposition Samajwadi Party often criticizing the state government for failing to manage the problem effectively. The issue gained momentum during the 2022 assembly elections, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself spoke on the issue in public rallies.
