JMC to shut cattle pond at Gandhi Nagar to use the property for commercial purposes

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 21: Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has decided to shut down the cattle pond at Gandhi Nagar and use the place for opening up of shopping complex.

Official sources said that this way, JMC plans to generate revenue for its various projects in the city, as the corporation is facing fund crunch since past many years.

Surprisingly the decision has been taken at the time when the city is facing huge problem of stray cattle who are roaming on its roads creating problem for the commuters and in some cases reason for the accidents.

Sources said that Corporation has decided to merge the cattle pond at Gandhi Nagar with the facility at Rehari, paving the way for the commercial exploitation of the property. The pond at the posh Gandhi nagar locality is there for last 40-years.

Sources said that keeping in view the high return value of a possible commercial venture at the Gandhi Nagar cattle pond, JMC wants to push the project ahead for which series of meetings have been convened by Commissioner S.C Sawhney.

However a senior municipal officer said, “Instead of improving the condition of the place, the closure of the facility will lead to pressure on single cattle pond in the city, which is already congested. At the moment there is no other such facility.

On an average, the JMC catches nearly 10 stray cattle on daily and those impounded are auctioned thrice a month.

Mostly these unclaimed and unsold animals are released near forest at Jajjar Kotli, Samba Rakh, Purmandal and Akhnoor, who again find their way back in the city or fall prey to the bovine smugglers.

Rajinder Singh- a local said that the cattle pond was in an unhygienic position to retain the animals but the decision of the JMC to construction of the mall is unaccepted.

While another local Payal Gupta applauded JMC’s decision and said that it will make the environment hygienic for the sustaining of locals.

When contacted JMC Commissioner SC Sawhney said that the decision is only to renovate the cattle pond because of its unhygienic atmosphere.

He added that the locals have many times complained so they are going to clean it up for their cause.

Everything will be done to create better space for the stray animals”, Sawhney said.