In a bid to contain the cattle menace, the Greater Chennai Corporation has increased the fine to be levied on cattle owners from 2,000 to 5,000 per head if they let the animals roam the streets. This comes in the wake of an increase in stray cattle attacks, including on a nine-year-old girl in Arumbakkam recently. In Triplicane too, six people were attacked by cattle.
The corporation has increased the daily maintenance charges at its pounds from 200 to 1,000. If a cattle is caught for the second time, the corporation will now charge 10,000. Chennai mayor R Priya on Friday passed a council resolution in this regard. Deputy mayor Mahesh Kumar said the increase in fine should deter cattle owners. “As per municipal rules, they should have their own space and food. But milking them, they let the cattle loose. The penalties will be enforced strictly,” Mahesh Kumar told TOI. As of September 16, the corporation had caught 3,468 cows.
More than 400 cattle have been seized from Ambattur zone, which was the highest. S Swaminathan of JAMBA, a group of five resident welfare associations in Mogappair West, said cattle menace is high in the area and they have to be seized if they cause public menace. Activists stressed that the fines must be implemented for it to work. “It is a welcome move but it must be executed. GCC should have their own pounds in tie up with NGOs so they can permanently seize the cattle of repeat offenders. Secondly, it is a question on how they will identify which cattle is caught twice as there is no proper identification,” said Arun Prasanna, People for Cattle in India. The corporation has collected 65 lakhs as fine from cattle owners this year.
The corporation has increased the daily maintenance charges at its pounds from 200 to 1,000. If a cattle is caught for the second time, the corporation will now charge 10,000. Chennai mayor R Priya on Friday passed a council resolution in this regard. Deputy mayor Mahesh Kumar said the increase in fine should deter cattle owners. “As per municipal rules, they should have their own space and food. But milking them, they let the cattle loose. The penalties will be enforced strictly,” Mahesh Kumar told TOI. As of September 16, the corporation had caught 3,468 cows.
More than 400 cattle have been seized from Ambattur zone, which was the highest. S Swaminathan of JAMBA, a group of five resident welfare associations in Mogappair West, said cattle menace is high in the area and they have to be seized if they cause public menace. Activists stressed that the fines must be implemented for it to work. “It is a welcome move but it must be executed. GCC should have their own pounds in tie up with NGOs so they can permanently seize the cattle of repeat offenders. Secondly, it is a question on how they will identify which cattle is caught twice as there is no proper identification,” said Arun Prasanna, People for Cattle in India. The corporation has collected 65 lakhs as fine from cattle owners this year.
