Vellore Corporation to send impounded stray cattle to goshalas to prevent traffic congestion, accidents

The Vellore Corporation impounds 10-20 stray cattle every day.
| Photo Credit: C. Venkatachalapathy

The Vellore Corporation has decided to send impounded stray cattle to goshalas in Kancheepuram to prevent traffic congestion and accidents in the town.

Corporation officials said that a nominal fee for the upkeep of impounded cattle would be paid by the civic body to goshalas. The decision comes after residents and motorists complained about stray cattle on key stretches like Arcot Road, Anna Salai, Old Bangalore Road, Katpadi Main Road and Thorapadi Main Road.

“Stray cattle can be seen especially on streets around CMC where patients, students and other pedestrians frequently use these stretches. Strict action should be taken against the menace,” said B. Sargunam, a motorist.

At present, the Corporation handles impounded stray cattle in makeshift premises and private goshalas that have limited space. As per norms, the civic body imposes a fine of ₹5,000 on first time offenders. Each fined cattle have a special marking given by the civic body to identify the animal again on the streets.

Thereafter, the Corporation impounds such stray cattle that are identified on the roads. “Government space to handle impounded cattle remains a challenge. As Kancheepuram has a large number of goshalas that have adequate space, cattle will be sent there. The proposal will come at the upcoming council meeting,” P. Janaki Raveendran, commissioner, Vellore Corporation, told The Hindu.

Earlier, the Corporation had meetings with owners of cattle in an effort to persuade them to prevent animals from roaming in the streets. Cattle owners sought a separate pathway across Chennai – Bengaluru Highway (NH 44) from Vellore’s Old Town to a grazing area along Palar river in Katpadi. However, NHAI objected to it, citing safety of motorists and obstruction to traffic flow on the route.

Every day, the Corporation, on an average, gets 50-70 calls from the public on stray cattle menace in the town that has 60 wards in its four zones. Crowded areas like Salavanpet, Sathuvachari, Thottapalayam, Katpadi, Saidapet and Ambedkar Nagar are known for cattle population as residents in these areas are traditionally dairy farmers.

Failure to keep cattle in their designated enclosures, due to a paucity of space, has led to the animals roaming in major thoroughfare in the town. Currently, the Corporation impounds 10-20 stray cattle every day. “Sending seized cattle to faraway goshalas will help to discourage animal owners from leaving cattle on the streets as they have to spend a lot of money on transporting seized cattle from such goshalas,” said an official.