Disposal of cattle carcasses poses threat to winged guests
BHARATPUR: Cattle carcasses disposed in the open on land adjoining Bharatpur’s Keoladeo National Park (KNP) — a world heritage site — has become a health hazard for migratory birds and tourists, KNP officials said on Saturday.
Concerned over the impact on environment of the popular bird sanctuary, the city civic body has issued a tender for disposal of dead cattle outside the city limits but away from the national park, officials said.
The Bharatpur Municipal Corporation has rented land near the bird sanctuary where bones and skin of dead cattle are stored.
Municipal commissioner Shivcharan Meena said, “We pay a rent of ₹ 3,000 every month and the land is used to dispose of dead cattle. Earlier, we had no land in the city but now we have been able to rent land near the bird sanctuary.”
Bharatpur divisional commissioner Subir Kumar said disposal of dead cattle within the national park range is against the norms of world heritage sites. “I will direct the district collector, Narendra Kumar Gupta, to inspect and stop the practice.”
The land where dead cattle are disposed of touches the KNP boundary wall. Ajit Uchoi, directors of the national park said, “We have written a letter to the district collector and municipal commissioner to remove the dumping site from the park.”
“Migratory birds can fall sick if they eat meat of dead cattle. It is the duty of stakeholders to keep the world heritage site safe,” he said. “Disease can spread among the birds in the KNP if the disposal venue is not removed from the park,” he added.