The municipal authorities here have decided to clamp down on the stray cattle wandering inside the town limits, posing problems for traffic movements and nuisance to the public.
The authorities seized five such cattle from the busy Nehru Street and the adjoining areas, as per the sections of the 144 CrPC promulgated by the District Collector last month.
Dr Coumarane, veterinary doctor with the Pondichery Municipality, told Express that the current effort was to curb the wandering cattle, which were deliberately let loose by their owners.
In the past, the cattle were caught and kept in the pounds by the authorities. Under the Pondicherry Municipality Act, the cattle thus impounded were released if the owners paid a fine of `250 per day, Dr Coumarane said.
Often the owners let loose their cattle inside the town and allow them to wander in search of food. If the cow was carrying, then the owners would not take care of those cattle, and they would be allowed to wander and fend for themselves, he added.
Dr Coumarane said that the owners of the cattle, impounded on Thursday, will be booked and appropriate action would be taken against them.