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Time of India
09-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Cows still have the right of way on city roads
Chennai: On any given evening, you might spot a line of buffaloes lying down on R K Mutt Road at Mylapore, unfazed by traffic. Or a cow making its way down the roads of Triplicane or Koyambedu. 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.
The Hindu
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Mechanical elephant ‘Gaja' gifted to temples in Aruppukottai
Chennai-based NGO People for Cattle in India and actress Trisha Krishnan donated a life-sized mechanical elephant named Gaja to Sri Ashtalinga Athisesha Selva Vinayagar and Sri Ashtabhuja Athisesha Varahi Amman Temples in Aruppukottai in Virudhunagar district. According to a press release, the initiative marked the first instance in Madurai region and Virudhunagar district where a temple embraced a mechanical elephant for religious ceremonies. Gaja, a meticulously designed mechanical elephant, is set to participate in temple rituals, offering a humane alternative to the traditional use of elephants. Additional Superintendent of Police Mathivanan unveiled the mechanical elephant Gaja. Gaja was introduced on the auspicious occasion of the Kumbabishekam festival at the temples. PFCI facilitated the donation to recognise the temples commitment to abstain from owning or hiring elephants, reflecting a broader movement towards cruelty-free religious practices. By integrating technology with tradition, these temples set a precedent for compassionate worship, inspiring others to follow suit. This move aligns with a growing trend across South India, where temples adopt mechanical elephants to uphold cultural practices while ensuring animal welfare. The world's first mechanical elephant, named Irinjadappilly Raman, was introduced at a temple in Kerala in 2023 by PETA India, the press release said.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Robotic jumbo gifted by Trisha debuts at Aruppukottai temples
Chennai: The kumbhabhishekam festival is on at the Sri Ashtalinga Athisesha Selva Vinayagar temple and the Sri Ashtabhuja Athisesha Varahi Amman Temples in Aruppukottai, after a gap of 24 years. The ceremony involves the new temple elephant Gaja carrying a pot of water from a nearby river to present to the idol at the temple. A life-sized Gaja's head is shaking, his ears flapping and his eyes are moving, but a closer look would reveal that he is not walking, but being wheeled. Gaja is a mechanical elephant made of fibre and silicon and powered by electricity, a generous gift to the temples from actor Trisha Krishnan and other donors. Many temples keep wild elephants captive but in any restrictive and confined atmosphere, they go through immense psychological trauma and stress, says Ananda Kumar, senior scientist, nature conservation foundation. "Ideally, wild elephants should be phased out from all such ceremonies, but any move replacing them is welcome." There have been countless instances, especially in the neighbouring state of Kerala, of elephants running wild amid processions and killing its own mahouts as well as spectators. "The temple authorities emrbaced the idea since even children can be around them safely," says Arun Prasanna, of the Chennai-based NGO People for Cattle in India (PCI), which works for captive elephants and is associated with this initiative. This initiative marks the first instance in the Madurai region - and the entire Virudhunagar district. "Devotion shines brightest when it's rooted in compassion," said Trisha, on the occasion.
