Stray cattle turn road safety hazard in Annanur

Chennai: At least 40 heads of stray cattle have turned Annanur's busy stretches into a daily hazard. They overturn garbage bins at night and dash across the roads, endangering motorists. A 24-year-old techie lost his life three months ago trying to swerve past a cow on the road. According to traffic police, at least 20 accidents linked to stray cattle were reported last year. With nearly 1,000 vehicles passing through the stretch every hour, residents say the presence of these animals has become a major cause of concern. According to a report by Avadi Corporation, there are 20,000 heads of cattle within the corporation limits. However, there is neither sufficient manpower to capture the strays nor proper cattle pounds to house them.In areas such as Siva Sakthi Nagar and 60-Feet Station Road, where 2,000 residents live, stray cattle roam freely, and no action has been taken against the cattle owners who let the animals loose.Residents say the animals occupy roads, empty plots and even residential streets. Even after years of complaints to the corporation, there has been no strict enforcement or fines levied. V Sivaraman, vice-president of Sivasakthi Nagar RWA, said, "Every day post 8pm, cattle and stray horses roam around the proximity. They topple the garbage bin. We already are facing a huge problem on garbage collection as the private contractor doesn't come to collect waste on a daily basis. The cattle menace worsens the situation."A senior corporation official said following complaints, a detailed project report was prepared to construct two cattle pounds. Work will begin once funds are sanctioned, with plans to complete the project by the end of the year, the official said.
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