The increasing incidence of digestive problems in cows due to consumption of plastic waste has given the Hindu sadhus a cause for concern in Saurashtra’s Junagadh town.

A group of Hindu sadhus including Vaishnavacharya Kishorcandraji, Gorakh Ashram Mahant Shernath Bapu, Tansukhgiri Bapu, Shastriji Bapu, Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s Jitubhai Hirpara, Suresh Bajaniya, Kumarbhai Rawal among others on Wednesday announced here to start a drive of removing the plastic waste from the streets in Junagadh. Sadhus have planned to pick up the plastic waste once in a month to prevent holy cows consuming plastic waste and to create awareness among the people.

During their unique ‘plastic cleaning walk’, Sadhus will advice people to despose plastic waste only in garbage containers. Sadhus will also tell cattle owners to treat the cows properly.

According to experts, plastic is the main culprit in about 15 per cent of the 16,000 animals treated every year for digestive problems.

Talking to DeshGujarat Shri Jitubhai Hirpara said: “people use plastic bags to carry vegetables. Besides, vegetables coming to market are often packed in polythene sacks which are thrown away and subsequently eaten by cows suffering from pica, an abnormal craving for substance not fit to eat. The cattle being not selective in eating, plastic gets ingested easily.The hapless animals suffer anorexia (lack of appetite) after some quantity of plastic is stuck in the stomach.”