Mathura has a monkey problem

Mathura: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has a novel solution to deal with the monkey menace in Mathura: recite the Hanuman Chalisa among other sacred texts.

“Mai yahan aaya to mujhse kaha gaya ki yahan par bandar bade pareshan kar rahe hain. Maine kaha 'Bajrang Bali' ki aarti karna shuru karo, 'Hanuman Chalisa' ka path karo, bandar kabhi nuksaan nahin pahuchayega (On arriving here I was told that the monkeys are a big source of worry for residents. I said, ‘Start carrying out the Bajrang Bali aarti and reciting the Hanuman Chalisa; then monkeys will never cause you any harm’,” Adityanath was quoted as saying, by news agency ANI on Friday.

Adityanath announced on Friday that special arrangements for the upkeep of stray cows, dogs, monkeys and birds will be made at every nagar nigam in the state.

Mai yahan aaya to mujhse kaha gaya ki yahan par bandar bade pareshan kar rahe hain. Maine kaha 'Bajrang Bali' ki aarti karna shuru karo, 'hanuman chalisa' ka path karo, bandar kabhi nuksaan nahin pahuchayega: UP CM Yogi Adityanath in Mathura (31.08.18) pic.twitter.com/NRDgGRWmvg — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 1, 2018

“Upkeep of stray cows, monkeys, dogs, birds has started in Lucknow and gradually the scheme would start in other nagar nigams," he said, as quoted by news agency PTI, after inaugurating several schemes worth Rs 346.74 crore for developing Brijbhumi.

A bridge over the river Yamuna will be jointly built with Haryana government, he said. The CM also announced Rs 50 crore for Goverdhan, and said work on a ropeway project in Barsana would start next year.

The CM said the Uttar Pradesh government was actively engaged in further developing and beautifying key pilgrim spots and promoting the state’s cultural heritage.

Yogi Adityanath and Maneka Gandhi, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, also jointly started a 1,000-bed shelter home for widows, media reports said.