Rourkela: The civic body-maintained kine house has again been activated after a gap.

Following complaints, the Rourkela Municipal Corporation has taken initiatives to make it fully operational.

"We had not closed it. The place is small, and we need workers to maintain the facility. We are working in that direction and will definitely try to make Rourkela roads safer by making them free of the stray animals," said deputy commissioner Sita Devi Majhi.

The cattle menace on the roads grew manifold with stray animals. The cow catcher has been made ready for the purpose. In the past two days, the corporation workers have caught over 20 stray animals from the city streets and put them in the kine house.

A worker said: "We are going to ensure that the streets are free of such animals. We have already served notices to the cattle owners to keep them in their custody, else they will have to collect their cattle by paying hefty fines."

"We need dedicated staff members. Sources said workers would be deputed shortly in the kine house at Rooptola near Panposh. Besides, the place is small and cannot house more than 20 animals," he said.

Minor road accidents arising out of the cattle menace have been reported in the past two months. "I broke my arm as a cow came on my way near Power House Road. I dashed against the divider and fell down while trying to save it," said local resident Tarun Das.

Such complaints became regular as the roads at Daily Market, RMC Chowk, Chhend Colony, Basanty Colony, Koelnagar and other areas house these animals. In addition, the buffaloes kept in khatals and goats and sheep of the butchers also add to the problems. "My son hit a sheep belonging to one of the butchers near C block and fell down injuring his leg and with small bruises on his right side," said a commuter, Bijan Das.