Cows still have the right of way on city roads
Stray cattle have become a fixture on roads, causing accidents and blocking traffic. According to govt data from 2023, Tamil Nadu recorded 499 animal-related road accidents — nearly half of them fatal. But, Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) data reveals a 74% drop in cattle caught.
In 2022, Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) caught 7,199 heads of cattle, averaging 19 a day. In the first six months of this year, it caught just 1,008, around five a day.
Triplicane, Mandaveli, Koyambedu, GN Chetty Road, Bells Road and Poonamallee High Road report the most cattle-related incidents.
The city has 15 cattle-catching vehicles, one for each zone. Seven are more than a decade old and break down often. Each vehicle carries just one cow at a time and must travel to Pudupet, the city's only functional depot, with a capacity of 80.
You Can Also Check:
Chennai AQI
|
Weather in Chennai
|
Bank Holidays in Chennai
|
Public Holidays in Chennai
"A vehicle only makes one trip a day, making it possible to only catch one cow a day.
We need more vehicles," said a Sholinganallur zone official.
Last year, GCC announced plans to build cattle shelters at Sholinganallur and Perungudi, but nothing has materialized. Officials blame red tape and lack of funds.
Hiring cattle catchers is also a struggle, say officials. Under the National Urban Livelihood Mission, daily wages are around RS400 and often delayed. The city has just 75 catchers for an estimated 20,000 cattle population.
Even existing shelters are being lost. A cattle depot at Perambur was razed to build a wedding hall while a new centre in Royapuram remains unused.
Stray cattle are returned if owners pay a Rs10,000 fine within two days. "We add RS1,000 a day after that," said veterinary assistant Karunanidhi. Unclaimed animals are handed to NGOs.
Veterinary officer Kamal Hussain said the corporation catches cattle based on complaints and hotspot alerts.
"More cattle caught in an area can mean more complaints," he said.
Many owners have no sheds. "After milking, they let cattle loose and coordinate on WhatsApp to avoid impoundment," said Arun Prasanna of People for Cattle in India. "Habitual offenders shouldn't get their cattle back," he added.
Many cattle owners use river banks as cattle sheds. At Koyambedu, along the Cooum river, A Kalaiarasan rears 10 cows and 10 buffaloes. According to GCC norms, 36sqft space is needed to house one cow. He neither has the space nor the food for cattle. He said his cattle roam around the neighbourhood and return to the banks in the evening.
"They're used to the lights and sounds of the streets," said veterinary assistant surgeon Dr Priya Vinnarasi. "Sometimes they won't even eat if tied up."
Chennai's roads, it seems, suits cattle just fine.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
6 hours ago
- India Today
Delhi University begins third round of Common Seat Allocation System admissions
Delhi University has launched the third phase of admissions for the 2025–26 academic year under the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS). This phase offers students the opportunity for seat upgradation, fresh allotments, mid-entry applications, and category-based who secured seats in the first or second round of CSAS can now upgrade their college-course combinations. The upgradation and preference reordering window is open from 5 pm on August 2 to 4:59 pm on August this time, candidates must indicate if they wish to upgrade and can rearrange their preference lists. Once the window closes, colleges will begin allotting upgraded or new seats in line with the revised preferences and seat AND CORRECTION FACILITY For candidates who missed earlier rounds, Delhi University is opening a mid-entry window from 5 pm on August 8 to 4:59 pm on August 10. This provision is also available to students whose earlier applications were rejected due to documentation issues or subject mapping errors. Applicants using the mid-entry facility must pay a non-refundable fee of Rs1,000. They can also correct subject details and update their course choices. Candidates who were not allotted seats in the previous rounds are eligible as well.(Direct link to apply)PREFERENCE FINALISATION AND VACANCY MATRIXBefore 5 PM on August 10, students are required to confirm their final list of courses and colleges, based on the latest vacancy matrix. These updated preferences will form the basis for the next round of seat allotment for this round will take place between August 13 and August 17. Students offered a seat must accept it to move forward in the process. The deadline for paying the admission fee online is 4:59 pm on August 19 (Tuesday).- EndsMust Watch
The Hindu
18 hours ago
- The Hindu
Residents complain about rise in invasive species of trees in vacant plots
Residents have complained about a rise in invasive species of trees and shrubs in vacant plots and government lands, augmenting the breeding grounds of rats and snakes in residential areas. Residents have complained about GCC officials' reluctance to clear the invasive trees and shrubs, particularly Prosopis juliflora from vacant plots. Mugalivakkam resident K.S. Kannan said they had requested Chennai Corporation officials to remove the invasive trees and shrubs including Prosopis juliflora because of the rise in number of rats and snakes in the residential area. 'In ward 156, Mugalivakkam, Mettukuppam, AGR Garden, snakes have increased in the past few months because of the growth of Prosopis juliflora. We requested the Chennai Corporation officials to clear the Prosopis juliflora. But they refused,' said Mr. Kannan. Ward 35 councillor S. Jeevan said the fire and rescue services rescued a cobra from a residential area a few days ago in a piece of land where invasive trees have increased in Muttamizh Nagar, because the Metrowater officials failed to clear the land. 'We have requested the metrowater officials to clear the invasive trees after residents complained that the breeding of snakes and rats was rising. Nine parcels of land belonging to metrowater have to be cleared in my ward to control rats and snakes. I spoke about Prosopis juliflora in parcels of government land near Basin Bridge, along the Buckingham Canal. People are dumping construction debris and solid waste in the area. During the Chennai Corporation Council meeting last year, I complained about the growth of invasive species of trees in a parcel of land near a dilapidated EB Quarters. The Mayor ordered the Regional Deputy Commissioner to clear the area. But the officials have not cleared it,' said Mr. Jeevan. Councillors and residents have stressed the need for a mass cleaning drive to clear such invasive species in all zones to prevent breeding of rats and snakes in residential areas. Residents in suburban areas have also complained about the growth of Prosopis juliflora in vacant plots of lands. Tracing the owners of the vacant plots of land will be done with support from the Registration Department, Revenue Department and local bodies, officials said.
The Hindu
21 hours ago
- The Hindu
‘Passageway under rail overbridge: GCC to firm up plans by mid-August'
Not long ago, Commissioner of Greater Chennai Corporation J. Kumaragurubaran with a posse of officials from GCC's Bridges Division and Egmore MLA I. Paranthamen were studying the precincts of a brick-and-mortar stairway that is linked to Dr. Guruswami road overbridge. They were considering a possibility, which on fruition would make the stairway redundant for pedestrians seeking to get to the Chetpet railway station, or to neighbourhoods on the other side. This visit gave Chetpet residents a glimmer of hope, as it was a sign that a decades-long request of theirs could be met. The request is a passageway under the ROB. It would spare residents on the Harrington road and McNichols Road side, particularly students of the half a dozen schools there, the need to cross Dr. Guruswami bridge to reach the Chetpet railway station. Kripa Sagar Janardhanan, one of the residents avidly pursuing this matter, reported that the dusty, macadam approach road to the stairway had been cleaned, and small blue metal stones laid on it. Bitumen-topping is said to be round the corner. Hope deepened, and he noted that communication from the Egmore MLA's office had it that GCC's Bridges Division would have a firm plan in hand by mid-August. When The Hindu Downtown contacted him, Egmore MLA I. Paranthamen revealed that in the last week of July, he heard from GCC's Bridges Division. According to the MLA, GCC officials from the Bridges Division informed him that expert opinion from structural engineers in MIT and Anna University about constructing a passageway under the road overbridge was being sought and those engineers would present the report in around two weeks — which would be in the August 10-15 time frame. The MLA further said that the GCC officials told him they are also in talks with railway contractors who are best qualified to take up this kind of work. There is likelihood of the passageway being created with precast blocks. Paranthamen said he had asked the GCC Bridges Division engineers to complete this work before N-E monsoon; he added that this passageway would be a boon to the students studying in half-a-dozen schools in this region who commute by train.
