Scores of farmers, led by ward councillors under Kendrapada Municipality, recently met District Collector Durga Prasad Behera demanding safety from stray bulls and simians. These animals are destroying standing fields of paddy, rabi crops and vegetables.
The farmers of ward number 1, 2, 3 and 4 alleged that they depend on farming to eke out their living. But hundreds of stray bulls and about a dozen of monkey herds have been destroying their crops and vegetables.
“Though several times, we have brought the matter before the district administration to drive away the stray animals, the authorities have not paid any heed to us. Earlier during the crop season, we had to incur loss after the stay bulls destroyed the paddy saplings and later damaged the ripe paddy, but now the bulls and the monkey herds are destroying the black grams and vegetables. If necessary steps are not taken, then we would also lose the crops this time,” the farmers lamented. The farmers demanded adequate steps to drive away the stray animals to the forests and warned of an agitation in the coming days, if the administration continues to cast deaf ear to their suffering.
When contacted, District Collector Behera informed that he would ask the forest personnel to launch a drive to chase away the monkeys and other pestering animals from the wards where the problem has occurred.