Bizodisha Bureau, Puri, July 16, 2015 : Hundreds of stray cattle have been relocated to a kine house to bring relief to some 50 lakh devotees expected to throng the holy city of Puri here for the Nabakalebara Rath Yatra.

Over 2000 stray animals are found in Puri town and around 500 of them move around Badadanda or what is otherwise known as Grand Trunk Road every day. The stray bulls often lock horns and sometimes pilgrims get hurt on the Badadanda and other places in the Pilgrim Town.

Puri Municipality in collaboration with state Veterinary Department has taken a noble step to relocate these stray animals to a kine house, located on the outskirts of Puri town near Chaitana having 28 Acres of land to accommodate about 500 animals.

There is also one One ‘Gaushala’ managed by Hariharananda Ashram is also available adjacent to the Kine house. The Ashram has evinced interest to rehabilitate stray bulls in their Gaushala, officials said.

The basic facilities such as rest shed, drinking water, feed, fodder etc. are made available inside Gaushala and kine house. The stray animals from Badananda and other places of Puri town are being captured by NGO namely “Thenga Bahini” engaged by Puri Municipality and brought to Kine house and Gaushala.

Presently, 521 bulls are rehabilitated at Gaushala and 319 stray animals are kept at Kine house. The Veterinary Department personnel are taking care of animals which are kept at Kine house and Gaushala. They are involved in controlling, feeding and providing health care services to these stray animals, according to fisheries and animal resources development secretary, Bishnupada Sethi