Tambaram Corporation to set up cattle sheds in Madambakkam and Sembakkam

Cattle feeding on garbage near the Pallavaram MRTS station
| Photo Credit: R. Aishwaryaa

The Tambaram Corporation plans to establish cattle pounds to control the menace of stray cattle, especially at night, in its limits. Land is being identified in Madambakkam and Sembakkam for the construction of the sheds, said Corporation Commissioner S. Balachander.

The development follows an incident earlier in January this year, wherein more than 15 people were injured in a span of three days after being attacked by stray cattle on Madhura Kavi Street in Ward 47, Tambaram East.

In Madambakkam’s Yeshwanth Nagar 4th street, under Ward 69 in East Tambaram, a child, who was playing near a park, was injured in a cattle rage incident, said A. Krishnan, a resident. “Some cattle owners get inebriated at night and let the animals loose without manning them. There are chances of accidents happening, especially near a medical college and hospital on Agaram Main Road towards Camp Road,” he added.

G. Vinod, 49, from Kozhi Pannai junction in Madambakkam, reported that cattle frequently troubled motorists between 12.30 a.m. and 5.30 a.m. Many residents have registered complaints online with the Corporation stating that stray cattle were freely grazing on roads in Sathya Sai Nagar, Periyar Nagar, Nithyananda Nagar, and Irumbuliyur West — all under Ward 60, Zone 4.

Further, complaints have arisen in areas such as Pallavaram, Chitlapakkam, Hastinapuram, and Kundrathur, where stray cows have blocked roads, caused traffic congestion, and posed safety hazards near schools, hospitals, and markets. Residents also cited cattle feeding on garbage and unhygienic conditions due to cow dung and urine.

Mr. Balachander stated that the Corporation is collecting a penalty of ₹2,000 per stray cattle. The menace is higher at night, but the owners said they do not have the space to shelter the cattle or a dedicated spot for grazing. “Further, the owners told us that continuous fines also affect their livelihoods,” he added.

The Commissioner said, “As a permanent solution in the long run, two sheds are being planned. Until then, as a temporary measure, raids are being undertaken by cow catchers, wherein 25 cows are captured in a day.“ During a mass raid in January, 72 cows were captured by the Tambaram Corporation, he added.