Chennai, July 9 (IANS) The Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) ambitious drive to microchip domestic cattle and regulate urban cattle rearing has made little headway, with only about 11 per cent of the city’s registered cattle being microchipped six months after the campaign was launched.

The civic body introduced mandatory licensing and microchipping of all cattle and buffaloes within Chennai city limits in January to improve animal identification, establish ownership and curb the growing menace of stray cattle on roads and in public spaces.

Cattle owners were given 45 days to obtain licences and complete the microchipping process, with March 18 fixed as the deadline for compliance. However, official data shows that only 2,700 cattle have been microchipped and 2,590 licensed so far, despite more than 22,000 domestic cattle being registered across the city.

The poor response has raised concerns over the effectiveness of the initiative, which was expected to help civic authorities identify owners of stray cattle and make them accountable for repeated violations.

According to GCC officials, repeated awareness campaigns and appeals have failed to persuade owners to comply with the mandatory requirements. “We have intensified awareness drives among cattle owners to obtain licences and microchip their animals, but there has been no proper response,” GCC Veterinary Officer J. Kamal Hussain said.

He said stray cattle continue to pose a serious inconvenience to motorists and pedestrians by roaming freely on roads, increasing the risk of traffic congestion and accidents. “We still find cattle wandering on city streets. Even when stray animals are impounded, many owners fail to have them microchipped,” he added.

The GCC charges a nominal fee of Rs 100 for issuing a cattle licence, making the process inexpensive for owners. Yet, nearly 89 per cent of the city’s registered cattle remain outside the licensing and microchipping system.

Despite the poor compliance, the civic body has not imposed penalties on violators. Authorities have neither extended the original deadline nor announced any punitive action against owners who fail to obtain licences or microchip their cattle.

Officials believe stricter enforcement will be necessary if the city is to effectively tackle the persistent stray cattle problem.

Civic activists have also urged the GCC to move beyond awareness campaigns and initiate enforcement measures, arguing that the continued presence of stray cattle poses a threat to road safety and public convenience across Chennai.

–IANS

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