Cattle Menace: Guj HC gives a week's time to authorities to take strict actions
Out of 4,404 stray cattle that were caught, only 421 cattle owners came to claim their animals
Updated: Oct 27th, 2023
Updated on Oct 27, 1.15 p.m.
Guj HC orders authorities to take strict actions
The Gujarat High Court, in its hearing of the matter related to bad roads, stray cattle, traffic, and parking related problems, reportedly stated that it is giving a week to improve the situation. The HC added that it is the responsibility of the authorities if the people are not abiding.
The HC directed the authorities to improve the situation in a week; failing to do so would invite strict judicial action, as stated by reports. The HC has also directed police to utilise their powers with responsibility, the inability of which may also invite charges to the extent of contempt of court.
The matter will be heard next on Nov 7.
Updated on Oct 26, 6.38 p.m.
Guj HC defers decision on stray cattle menace matter
The Gujarat High Court today deferred its decision on the stray cattle menace matter in the state by a day following a request by Advocate General, Kamal Trivedi. A bench, comprising Justices AJ Shastri and Hemant Prachchhak, has rescheduled the hearing on this matter on Oct 27. The high court is expected to determine the course of action in addressing the stray cattle menace issue in the state on this date.
The court’s decision to delay the order stems from an earlier indication on Oct 25 where it had hinted at framing contempt charges against responsible officials for their alleged failure to adhere to the high court’s directives in addressing the cattle menace prevailing in the state.
Updated on Sept 1, 1.30 p.m.
Policy to tackle stray cattle menace to be implemented from today
As per the Gujarat high court's orders, the cattle control bill framed to tackle cattle menace by the Ahmedabad Municipal Commission (AMC) in the city will be under implementation from today.
The Ahmedabad municipal commissioner, M Thennarasan, has released a notice stating that this policy is to be implemented in every zone of every ward by the zonal dy municipal commissioner.
Ahmedabad’s traffic problems are taking a toll on the citizens, and the stray cattle menace is adding to the difficulties while commuting. In the last four months, 5,700 complaints on stray cattle menace have been filed in Ahmedabad.
An action plan to catch stray cattle off the roads, for all the seven zones in the city. Each zone would have three teams. This plan was put into action during the tenure of the former municipal commissioner Lochan Sehra.
As per the plan, the teams were required to catch 100 stray cattle a day on average, however, the current numbers suggest an average of 50 cattle only.
Under the Safe and Secure Ahmedabad (SASA) Project, CCTV cameras were installed in multiple junctions in Ahmedabad. With the help of CCTV footage, the cattle nuisance control department of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has caught 2,582 stray cattle.
Additionally, to inform the cattle owners of the menace created by the strays, LED notice boards were also installed in 126 locations in the city Apart from that, with the help of IVR, 6,330 cattle owners were made aware too.
Talking of numbers
Despite the guidelines provided, the cattle have conquered the streets of Ahmedabad. From April to July, a total of 3,266 charge sheets were filed. 445 FIRs were filed with regard to the grazing and sale of cattle.
Around 2,763 animals were sent to animal welfare organisations, including panjrapol. A total fine of ₹25.98 lakh was collected by authorities in four months.
M Thenarassan, the municipal commissioner, also gives regular orders regarding the cattle menace. 520 complaints were lodged in April, 1,737 in May, 1,082 in June, and 2,361 in July. In response to these complaints, 1,081 animals were caught in April, 1,122 in May, 920 in June, and 1,281 in July. So in the past four months, 4,404 cattle have been caught by the authorities.
Unfortunately, out of 4,404 stray cattle that were caught, only 104 in April, 101 in May, 96 in June, and 120 in July were claimed by the cattle owners.
The Gujarat high court ordered on Aug 9 that the state government should present a policy to curb the stray cattle menace on the streets in the next hearing on Aug 31.
(With inputs from IANS)
