The Times of India              03.10.2013 

PMC launches drive against khatals in Patna

PATNA: Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC), with a view to rid the Patnaites of stray animal menace, on Wednesday launched a drive to remove 'khatals' from different parts of the city. The city has been facing stray animal menace for long.

The Patna high court had only last week asked the PMC to remove khatals from the city.

"We have been receiving complains regarding the presence of 'khatals' in different parts of the city; thus, on Wednesday we carried out a drive to remove them," said Shashank Shekhar Sinha, additional municipal commissioner (in charge, sanitation and revenue), PMC.

On the first day of the drive, the corporation caught 25 stray cows near the Maurya Lok complex under Kotwali police station area. All the cows have been kept at a makeshift Kanji house of PMC at Yarpur. "All the cow owners will have to pay a fine ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 for each cow, depending on the nature of offence," said Sinha. Strict action would be taken against those whose cattle is caught again despite being fined once. The drive would continue, said the official.