The New Indian Express 28.12.2013
The Chennai Corporation, on Friday, passed a resolution during a
council meeting to induct eight modern vehicles for catching and
transporting stray cattle. The vehicles, which are to be bought at a
cost of Rs 1.18 crore will strengthen the already existing fleet, from
which three vehicles which served for more than 15 years are to be
rolled out.
An interesting feature that has been added in the new
vehicles are that they will have hydraulic lifts for loading the cattle
onto the vehicle without the use of leash or other painful methods. The
vehicle is also closed, which will provide comfortable transport of the
cattle.
Councillors said the vehicles should not only be used
when complaints are received but also when cattle cause obstructions.
Also, some of the councillors expressed that they had received
complaints of improper treatment of the cattle at the Blue Cross centres
where they are taken and detained until the owners claimed them.
A
councillor from Ambattur informed said, “I have received complaints
from residents that the cattle that were detained were not taken care of
properly.” Many argued that there was no point in clearing the cattle
from roads in a humane manner if they undergo ill treatment during
detention.
The mayor assured that the suggestions and complaints would be taken into consideration.
Answering
questions raised by a councillor on the importance being given to the
free mosquito net scheme over general mitigation measures, Chennai Mayor
Saidai Duraisamy said that the distribution of mosquito nets to the
general public was only an emergency intervention measure and had been
implemented according to the needs.