Chennai Corporation asked to submit action taken report within six weeks

The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has sought a report from the Greater Chennai Corporation seeking details of action taken regarding cattle menace in the city within six weeks.

The commission, which took suo motu cognisance of The Hindu report ‘Scare, till the cows come home’ that appeared on Tuesday, said in default, it might proceed to take such action as it deemed fit and proper.

The Chairperson of SHRC Justice T. Meenakumari passed the order that called for a report from the Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation as to what steps had been taken to prevent the menace of cattle on roads.

On Sunday evening, a 72-year-old homemaker of Triplicane, S. Choodamani, died after she was hit by a cow. She was returning home after visiting the Sri Parthasarathy Swamy Temple.

The locality is notorious for cows that roam around eating vegetable waste from the markets.

“Let this be the last accident due to cows in our area. We want severe action against the owners who let the cattle to roam around,” said a resident.

Ward 116 councillor B. Srinivasan alias MGR Vasan said that stringent action would be taken against offending cattle owners.

“On Tuesday, the corporation impounded four cows. We already have caught three cows and they are in the pound. As per rules, we can retain the cows only for three days; we will now send these to the Blue Cross… we will not release them,” he said. Srividya of Nanganallur said that residents of Nanganallur and Ullagaram faced a a similar problem.