Junagadh (Gujarat), Aug 13 - A group of Hindu monks will Monday launch a campaign to rid this Gujarat city of all polythene waste to save cows, considered holy by the Hindus.

The monks led by prominent Hidnu religious leaders of Saurashtra region, including Shernath Bapu, Tansukhgiri Bapu, Vaishnavacharya Kishorechandraji and Shastriji Bapu, have decided to walk the streets of Junagadh once a month and collect all polythene garbage for safe disposal to protect the cow, an official of the Junagadh Municipal Corporation said Thursday.

He said the initiative is supported by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) volunteers who would move around with the monks and help collect the polythene garbage from the streets.

This is the first initiative of its kind in Junagadh, about 450 km from Gujarat's main city of Ahmedabad.

Those behind the campaign say the polythene waste that stray cows end up consuming not only damages their digestive system as the polythene gets stuck in the intestines, it could also lead to some serious health problems for the animals.

Cattle owners will also be asked not to leave the cows on city streets and take them to grazing grounds on the outskirts of the city.