CHENNAI: Months after a ten-fold hike in penalty for owners of cattle that go astray, free loitering bovines are aplenty on city roads, hindering traffic flow and testing motorists’ balancing skills. The effect of the hike wore off in two months, shows official data. Post penalty hike in April, the initial decline in the number of cattle impounded by the civic body soon reversed, showing a steep increase in cattle seizure.The civic body had impounded an average of 140 cattle from January to May, this year. After raising the penalty from around Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,750 in April, there was a dip in impound of cattle in April and May. The hike faced stiff resistance, as the staff hired by the civic body faced mobs when they tried to impound cattle.“When the cattle is first caught, we penalise the owner and tag the ear of the cow or buffalo to help authorities identify later if it has been found astray earlier. Once the owner pays the fine, we release the cattle,” said an official. “If it is found straying a second time, the cattle is impounded and sent to Blue Cross shelter. The owner can’t have the cattle back.”The civic body has earned over Rs 16 lakh in the past three months from the penal fine collected. Data, however, suggests that while the number of cattle impounded in April and May was very low, there has been an increase now.While 20, 27 cattle were impounded in April and May, the number kept increasing from June. In August, September and October, workers impounded 75, 73 and 52 cattle roaming freely on the streets, shows data.Despite corporation officials saying cattle are not found inside the city limits, residents of several areas say that cattle are periodically found on city roads, holding up traffic. “While there is not enough space in the road for vehicles to move about, cows are seen on the road, often,” said Geeta, a Chennaiite. Residents of Perungudi, KK Nagar and Koyambedu say they have not seen any decline in cattle sighted on roads, despite the penalty hike.Activists, however, feel that the hike can’t do much to curb the menace as these cows sooner or later end up in slaughter houses. “A kilogram of beef costs Rs 450. A fine of Rs 10,000 for a cow is a meagre amount when compared to the earnings it would bring to its owner if they sell it for meat or hide,” said Dawn Williams of Blue Cross. He added that police should aid the corporation to end cattle menace as workers who impound cattle face mob violence.

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