Taking a leaf out of the Mohali Municipal Corporation (MC), the Panchkula civic body authorities have decided to increase the fine fivefold on cattle owners who set free their cattle to roam and graze in green pastures during late night hours.
MC Administrator Rajesh Jogpal said many precious lives were lost in accidents involving stray cattle. This was why they had decided to increase the fine from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000. The move would discourage cattle owners from letting their animals loose on the roads, he said.
Jogpal said that large number of stray cattle were entering from the neighbouring Dhakauli, Baltana in Zirakpur and Chandigarh. The Panchkula MC has decided to post its own guards to stop the entry of the cattle creating traffic hazard. He said the local dairy owners had been warned of strict action if they set free the cows and buffaloes in the city during late night hours.
It is pertinent to mention here that two cow shelters in Pinjore and Kalka have around 6,000 to 7,000 cattle, while the Panchkula cow shelter has around 3,000 cattle. Each year, around 500 cows are brought to these shelters. A majority of these violators were from Rally village, Ramgarh, Saketri, Kalka and Pinjore among other villages and colonies falling under the MC limits.
