CHENNAI: The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is set to make licensing mandatory for all cattle and buffalo owners within city limits and introduce microchipping to curb the menace of stray cattle on roads, improve traceability and enforce accountability.
According to official data, about 22,875 cattle are currently being reared within GCC limits. A significant number of these animals are found roaming on roads and public spaces, leading to traffic disruption, public safety risks and sanitation concerns.
Under the proposed system, cattle owners will be required to apply for licences through GCC, submit applications at zonal veterinary offices, and pay a licence fee of Rs.100 after field verification by veterinary officers and health inspectors. Application forms will be made available on the GCC website.
At the time of issuing licences, each animal will be implanted with a microchip, capturing details such as the owner’s name, address and cattle identification data. The Corporation plans to procure 25,000 microchips and 25 microchip readers for this purpose. Cattle owners will be given a 45-day window, up to March 18, 2026, to obtain licences.
Earlier, a fine of Rs.10,000 per animal was imposed, and cattle were returned only after owners gave an undertaking that they will not allow the animals to roam on roads. In 2024 and 2025 alone, the GCC caught 4,237 cattle and collected Rs.2.22 crore in fines.
The licensing and microchipping framework is aimed at identifying ownership, preventing repeat violations, and regulating urban cattle rearing, in line with provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the Animal Diseases Control Act, 2009, and the Tamil Nadu Keeping of Animals and Birds in Urban Areas Act, 1997.