Stray cattle continue to rule Chennai streets
TNN | Sep 16, 2019, 04.20 AM IST
CHENNAI: Little did A R Basha expect to return with a broken harm from his stroll near the Parthasarathy temple, Triplicane. The septuagenarian was attacked by a stray cattle last week and sustained a fracture in the arm. Cattle menace is growing out of proportions on city streets, with an estimated 10 lakh of them in the urban limits, despite specific laws against it.
Hefty penalties, warnings and a spike in cattle impounded by the civic body don’t seem to deter the owners from reining in their livestock. The civic body has impounded 186 cattle and collected Rs 16.7 lakh in fines from April to July. Last financial year, the civic body had impounded 670 cattle and collected a fine of Rs 53 lakh.
“We implemented a new resolution passed in November 2017 last April, under which the penalty for owning a cattle in city limits was increased from Rs 1,550 to Rs 10,750. We have been acting on complaints. As per The Tamil Nadu Animals and Birds in Urban Areas (control and regulation) Act, 1997, cattle cannot be allowed indoors or outdoors in Chennai. There is also the Cattle Trespass (Tamil Nadu) Amendment Act, 1957 that specifies norms against this,” said Dr Kamal Hussain, city veterinary officer, Greater Chennai Corporation.
He said whenever they get complaints, the zonal officials immediately visit the spot and tag the cattle. “We collect fine the first time. If there are further complaints, we seize the animal and send it to the shelters in Pudupettai and Perambur,” he said.
Residents from areas such as Villivakkam, Royapettah have been complaining to the civic body about stray cattle menace for the past few years.
T Viswanath, a Royapettah resident, said, “Stray cattle on North Tank Square Street and Singrachari Street hinder smooth flow of traffic and attack senior citizens. Several of my friends were attacked. The menace continues despite the civic body increasing fine.”
S Manikandan, a resident of Villivakkam, said the menace is bigger than what meets the eye as the cattle are owned by powerful people. “There are nearly 20 cows in several streets such as Agathiar Nagar, New Avadi Road, around the park in Villivakkam. Since the owners are backed by some powerful people, talks are held every time we complain but the cattle are back on the streets. Sometimes mobs attack officials too,” he said.
Booking the violators under the Indian Penal Code section 289 (negligence conduct in respect to an animal) and section 11 (I and J) Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, might help, says Dawn William of Blue Cross. These are non-bailable sections and police can confiscate the cattle. “These animals not just cause traffic problems but eat plastic waste. Owners are willing to pay hefty fines as they earn about Rs 250-Rs 320 per kg of the animal for its meat. So unless the owners are arrested, the menace cannot be resolved,” he said.
TNN | Sep 16, 2019, 04.20 AM IST
CHENNAI: Little did A R Basha expect to return with a broken harm from his stroll near the Parthasarathy temple, Triplicane. The septuagenarian was attacked by a stray cattle last week and sustained a fracture in the arm. Cattle menace is growing out of proportions on city streets, with an estimated 10 lakh of them in the urban limits, despite specific laws against it.
Hefty penalties, warnings and a spike in cattle impounded by the civic body don’t seem to deter the owners from reining in their livestock. The civic body has impounded 186 cattle and collected Rs 16.7 lakh in fines from April to July. Last financial year, the civic body had impounded 670 cattle and collected a fine of Rs 53 lakh.
“We implemented a new resolution passed in November 2017 last April, under which the penalty for owning a cattle in city limits was increased from Rs 1,550 to Rs 10,750. We have been acting on complaints. As per The Tamil Nadu Animals and Birds in Urban Areas (control and regulation) Act, 1997, cattle cannot be allowed indoors or outdoors in Chennai. There is also the Cattle Trespass (Tamil Nadu) Amendment Act, 1957 that specifies norms against this,” said Dr Kamal Hussain, city veterinary officer, Greater Chennai Corporation.
He said whenever they get complaints, the zonal officials immediately visit the spot and tag the cattle. “We collect fine the first time. If there are further complaints, we seize the animal and send it to the shelters in Pudupettai and Perambur,” he said.
Residents from areas such as Villivakkam, Royapettah have been complaining to the civic body about stray cattle menace for the past few years.
T Viswanath, a Royapettah resident, said, “Stray cattle on North Tank Square Street and Singrachari Street hinder smooth flow of traffic and attack senior citizens. Several of my friends were attacked. The menace continues despite the civic body increasing fine.”
S Manikandan, a resident of Villivakkam, said the menace is bigger than what meets the eye as the cattle are owned by powerful people. “There are nearly 20 cows in several streets such as Agathiar Nagar, New Avadi Road, around the park in Villivakkam. Since the owners are backed by some powerful people, talks are held every time we complain but the cattle are back on the streets. Sometimes mobs attack officials too,” he said.
Booking the violators under the Indian Penal Code section 289 (negligence conduct in respect to an animal) and section 11 (I and J) Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, might help, says Dawn William of Blue Cross. These are non-bailable sections and police can confiscate the cattle. “These animals not just cause traffic problems but eat plastic waste. Owners are willing to pay hefty fines as they earn about Rs 250-Rs 320 per kg of the animal for its meat. So unless the owners are arrested, the menace cannot be resolved,” he said.
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