The stray cattle that were impounded by Thoothukudi Corporation officials on Friday.
| Photo Credit: RAJESH N
Thoothukudi Corporation has launched a drive to impound cattle roaming in public spaces and to levy fines on their owners. Through this initiative, the Corporation has impounded over 80 cattle in the past three weeks.
Apart from stray cattle, many cattle owners deliberately unleash their bovines without adhering to civic body’s instructions. This has led to minor and major accidents across the city. Although the Corporation has taken several initiatives including imposing fines on cattle owners, a lack of consistent enforcement has made things easier for the cattle owners to continue the practice.
Areas including Ettayapuram Road, Tiruchendur Road, Third Mile are among the places frequently occupied by these bovines for feeding and resting.
Following repeated complaints, Thoothukudi Corporation has launched the drive initially focusing on the north zone and it will be expanded to other zones in the district.
In the past three weeks, the authorities have impounded 82 bovines, 59 cows and oxen and 23 calves. Additionally, the Corporation has fined ₹5,000 for cows and oxen and ₹1,500 for calves and a daily feeding charge of ₹300 which will be added to the penalty amount.
Earlier the seized cattle were taken to a goshala in Tenkasi, which made it difficult for cattle owners to retrieve their animals. To ease the process the Corporation has now established a goshala in Millerpuram, where owners can collect their animals after paying the fine amount with Aadhaar based registration.
Speaking on this initiative to curb the menace, Thoothukudi Mayor Jegan Periyasamy said that most of the cattle roaming in public spaces in Thoothukudi belong to individuals, as reflected by the long queues of owners arriving each morning to reclaim their animals after seizure.
He added that the Corporation will continue to strengthen the drive across the city until cattle owners comply fully and refrain from letting their animals stray into public areas.
Published – November 21, 2025 09:09 pm IST
