Rajkot civic body approves new stray cattle policy

Rajkot: In order to control the stray cattle menace, the standing committee of the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) has approved a new policy imposing stricter regulations on both the cattle and their owners. The decision to implement these new rules stems from recent government guidelines and the ongoing problem of cattle causing accidents and fatalities within the city.

Under the new policy, the penalty for impounding stray cattle has been increased to Rs 3,000, which is three times the previous penalty of Rs 1,000. For the second impounding of an animal, the penalty is 1.5 times the initial amount, and for the third impounding, it is doubled.

The policy also mandates that cattle owners obtain permits, and those involved in the dairy business must secure licences from the RMC. The fees for these permits and licences have also been substantially raised.

Cattle owners without suitable space within RMC’s jurisdiction are required to relocate their cattle outside the city limits within two months or place them in designated animal hostels. Currently, RMC operates four animal hostels, with a fifth one under construction. Additionally, specific areas will be designated as no-cattle zones, where cattle will not be allowed.

RMC plans to use RFID tags to identify all animals once permits or licences are issued, and individuals bringing animals from outside the city limits must register the animals with the RMC and have them tagged within four months.

To prevent confrontations between cattle breeders and the impounding team, local police will be included in the animal impounding efforts. The RMC will also install cameras on the impounding vehicles to deter individuals who attack the impounding team. Furthermore, the sale of grass in public places is now prohibited under the new regulations. DeshGujarat