Monkey menace creating nuisance for Delhi residents

Over a week has passed since monkey menace led to the death of Delhis deputy mayor, but the administration has been unable to overcome this unique problem as residents continue to reel under the threat from simians.

New Delhi, Oct 31 : Over a week has passed since monkey menace led to the death of Delhi's deputy mayor, but the administration has been unable to overcome this unique problem as residents continue to reel under the threat from simians.

"They (monkeys) really trouble us; they sneak into our houses. They even open our fridge some times and take our eatables. They take away clothes, they are troubling us a lot and we are really worried," says a troubled local Rakesh Sharma.

But the problem does not end here with the intrusion of simians into the households, but the dangerous situation that it could lead up to some time when these monkeys turn violent in their quest for food.

Delhi's Deputy Mayor, S S Bajwa was a victim of such an attack by the monkeys when he fell from the roof of his house and died.

Recently, the Delhi High Court had also lambasted the civic authorities of the national capital for not tackling the problem.

"The administration did take some measures to curb the monkey menace, but they were active only for four to five days. After that everything was back to its original state," said Gopal, another local.

The increasing population of monkeys and their loss of habitat with the increasing urbanisation in and around the Delhi region have triggered such behaviour of monkeys, as they roam in groups in cities' residential colonies in search of food and water.

According to a rough estimate, there are 5,500 monkeys roaming on the streets of the city.

Monkeys are omnipresent -- on rooftops, at market place, over electric poles and generally across the length and breadth of the city, which is losing its forest cover rapidly.

ANI