Siang, Arunachal Pradesh: In a bid to prevent road accidents and protect the culturally revered mithun population in Arunachal Pradesh, officials in Siang district have introduced fluorescent collars for the free-ranging bovines, making them more visible to drivers in dense fog and low-visibility conditions.
The initiative, personally funded by Circle Officer of Pangin, Niyang Pertin, and PWD (Highways) Pasighat Division Executive Engineer, Okep Dai, saw the distribution of 200 fluorescent collars to mithun owners on February 7.
The ceremony was presided over by Pangin Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Gamtum Padu, who emphasized the shared responsibility of ensuring highway safety.
Mithuns, known for their dark coats and nocturnal movements, often wander onto highways, leading to frequent road accidents that claim both human and animal lives. The newly introduced high-visibility collars aim to mitigate this risk by making the animals more distinguishable, especially in foggy winter conditions.
“Ensuring the safety of our highways is not just about infrastructure—it is about fostering harmony between people, wildlife, and livestock,” said Executive Engineer Dai, highlighting the significance of the initiative.
Circle Officer Pertin echoed this sentiment, stating that the repeated loss of mithuns on highways was *deeply concerning, given their *cultural and economic importance in Arunachal Pradesh.
The move has been widely welcomed by the community, with locals expressing their support for future safety measures aimed at protecting both livestock and travelers on Arunachal’s roads.
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