Yes, you heard that right. In a bizarre incident, Telangana Municipal Committee took 15 goats into custody after the MC employees caught them grazing on the saplings planted under the “Haritha Haram” plantation drive. MC has also imposed a fine of Rs 3,000 on each one of the seized goats.
The incident was reported in Yellandu town in Bhadradri Kothagudem district of Telangana.
After witnessing the goats damaging saplings, MC Commissioner Srinivas Reddy directed the employees to detain the goats and impose penalty.
These saplings were planted under the sixth phase of the green initiative “Harith Haram” aimed at increasing the green cover by 33 percent in the state. In the sixth phase, the Telangana has planned to plant 30 crore saplings across the various part of the state.
Following the directions of MC commissioner Srinivas Reddy, nine goats were detained on Thursday and Friday. Six goats were later taken to custody on Saturday. The staff is taking care of the goats in the municipality office and has issued an alert via a Whatsapp message to the owner to pay the penalty to take back the goats.
“A fine of ₹ 3,000 will be levied per each seized goat on the concerned owners for violating Sections 159 (1) and (2) of the Telangana Municipalities Act, 2019,” stated Reddy.
In recent weeks, Telangana MC has also impounded 20 cows who were grazing on saplings and caused traffic obstruction. After their owners didn’t show up and failed to pay the penalty, MC had sent these 20 cows to the Gowshala (cowshed) in Khammam.
