Kambala (buffalo race) this year in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts may not be held

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Nov 22, 2014:  The recent Supreme Court order banning ‘Jallikattu’ in Tamil Nadu has put an end to (at least for now)  the annual slush race of buffaloes. It is reported that the deputy director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department has asked the organisers of Kambala in Dakshina Kannada district not to conduct the event hereafter. The Kambala season generally starts in November and lasts until March.

 

The Animal Welfare Board, Chennai, had written to the deputy commissioner and the deputy director of department of Animal Husbandry, seeking to restrict the sport in view of the apex court order.

The order of the deputy director said: “Such events are against Section 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. It is the duty of the government to enforce the Act. Disciplinary action will be taken against officials who fail to implement the Act.” The Animal Welfare Board, in its letter dated November 13 to the Udupi district administration, had directed it to restrict Kambala. Accordingly, the Udupi deputy commissioner had restricted the organisers not to conduct the sport scheduled to have begun on November 15 and concluded to March 28, 2015.

The letter had referred to the Supreme Court order passed on May 7, 2014, banning all such events including Jallikattu and bullock-cart races. It had said: “Bulls cannot be used as performing animals, either for the Jallikattu events or bullock-cart races in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra or elsewhere.” The decision means that Kambala scheduled for this Sunday (Nov 23)  in Surathkal will not be held. The Dakshina Kannada district administration too had planned to conduct a Kambala at Pilikula on December 29 during Karavali Utsav to attract tourists.  A big question mark hangs over this traditional  sport for now.