VMC official seeks special law in Gujarat to curb stray cattle menace

Vadodara

The Vadodara Municipal Commissioner has written to the Gujarat government to enact a special and stricter law to check the menace of stray cattle in the state.

H S Patel, in a letter addressed to the Principal Secretary of the state Urban Development department has sought a solution to the stray cattle problem, “which has become a serious issue owing to rapid urbanization”.

At present, there are provisions (of punitive action) under the Cattle-Trespass Act, 1872, Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporation (GPMC) Act, and the Bombay Police Act, 1951, Patel stated in the letter, and lamented they are not stringent enough.

He has also enclosed a copy of the draft Act, prepared by him, for consideration by the government.

Patel has also forwarded a copy of the letter to P K Taneja, Additional Chief Secretary of the state Home department, and the municipal commissioners of the seven other municipal corporations in the state, i.e. Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Junagadh and Rajkot.

He has sought that offenders (cattle owners and others) should be tried under the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities (PASA) Act.

He expressed concern about the traffic, sanitation issues among others caused by stray cattle, particularly in the urban areas.

PTI