Greater Chennai Corporation to set up 7 sheds to curb stray cattle menace on streets

Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation will set up seven sheds across the city to house wandering stray cattle.A cattle shed at Perungudi zone at Veerapandiya Kattabomman Cross Street will be built at a cost of 2.25 crore and the shed at Tambaram-Velachery Main Road is being built for 2.56 crore. These together can house up to 100 heads of cattle.Deputy mayor Mahesh Kumar said that earlier, GCC had to transport seized cattle from south Chennai to either Pulianthope or Broadway at north Chennai. "With the new pounds being built in south Chennai, action can be taken much faster," he said.The civic body receives around 2,000 complaints a year through its 1913 hotline number,the Namma Chennai app, its official website and on social media. About 1,000-1,500 cattle are seized annually.Under the Cattle-Trespass (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 1957, the civic body can impound the cattle and collect 1,550 as penalty, in addition to a daily maintenance fee of 1,000. GCC has increased the first-time offence to 10,000, with the additional maintenance fee, but the menace persists. Arun Prasanna of People for Cattle in India said the civic agency must file FIRs under Section 285 of BNS. "Allowing animals to wander and endanger the public is a criminal offence under the section. The cows must not be returned to the owners. This will affect the business of cattle-owners such as milkmen, forcing them to follow rules," he said. "These animals cause accidents. It is the responsibility of the corporation to ensure people are safe," he added.GCC has constructed about 10 shelters and pounds in the past five years, and the new sheds will bring the total count to 17.