Stray cattle continue to pose problems at Mattuthavani market

Madurai: The threat from stray cattle continues at the Mattuthavani vegetable market in Madurai. Cattle roam around markets and disrupt traffic on roads, posing a danger to the public and vendors.

Herds of stray cattle and dogs enter the market, try to eat fruits and vegetables kept out in the open, and scavenge the piles of waste dumped around the market. The cattle add to the crowd at the market, bumping into parked vehicles and shoppers. They also cause a loss for the vendors as they make off with their vegetable wares.

“Cattle sometimes defecate in front of our shops, driving away customers,” said Jeyaraj, one of the vendors at the market. “Even if the cattle are shooed away, they return after a while.”

Sridevi, one of the shoppers at the market, said the cattle made it difficult for her to stop at shops for too long. “When I see a herd of cow approaching, I have to leave the area fearing my safety,” she said.

The cattle leave the market and sit on the side of the road, causing disruptions to traffic on the already busy Melur Main Road. A commuter said cattle sometimes cross the road suddenly, posing a threat to motorists.

A senior corporation official said there has been a surge of stray cattle cases in the past week. “We have assigned a task force to increase activity in the affected areas, to bring the issue under control,” the official said.