Cattle grazing at Mumbai University campus raises security concern

Varsity senate members, who discovered the animals and their caretakers on Kalina campus playground, say authorities trying to shrug off responsibility

Deserted by the pandemic, a playground on the Kalina campus of Mumbai University has turned into a grazing field for cattle. The varsity’s senate members discovered the animals when they visited the campus on Friday. They have raised concerns over the callousness on the security system and will meet the administration on the issue.

“It was during our visit to the Kalina campus as a part of infrastructural development plan when this revelation shocked us. Around 20 cows were grazing in this open area and there were two people guiding the cattle. This clearly shows that these animals were on the varsity’s land not by mistake,” said Pradeep Sawant, a senior senate member of the MU. The senate members stressed that there was a lapse in security on the campus.

“Even though the pandemic has kept most parts of the varsity closed, the security department is functioning in full capacity. When we pointed out the security concern, the MU tried to shrug off the responsibility by stating that the area is allotted to All India Tennis Association (AITA). But the security is provided by the varsity and the cattle and their caretakers entering the campus is a failure on the administration’s part,” Sawant added. Mumbai University’s Public Relations Officer Leeladhar Bansod was unavailable for comment.

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