Chennai: Corporation increases fine on loose cattle on streets

CHENNAI: Putting the harness on cattle owners who allow their cows and buffalos roam on city roads, the Greater Chennai Corporation has increased penalty up to Rs 10,750.

The decision had been taken in the  November special council meet to increase the fine to '10,000 from '1,000, according to a Chennai Corporation statement.

The new hike will come into effect from April 1. According to a Chennai Corporation official, the civic body has been imposing a penalty of '1,000 for cattle less than 3 years of age and '1250 for cattle above 3 years. “Maintenance cost of the cattle for 3 days was '300. Now the maintenance cost has been fixed at '750 for 3 days,” the official said.

The press release also added, to check the repeat offenders, the civic body would make a mark in the cattle’s ears.

If the same cow caught again, it would be handed over to NGOs. Then the cattle owner will lose his cow. “Severe action against repeated offenders also will be taken,” the release said. “Presently, the corporation has no provisions to punish the repeat offenders. If the same cattle caught again, the owners could pay the same amount of fine that they paid during the first time,” the official said. The Chennai corporation has caught as many as 7,206 cows from 2011-12 to 2017-18 (till October) and collected '1.13 crore as penalty.