Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Sep 19: With the aim of streamlining livestock taxation and ensuring public health safety, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has intensified enforcement at its bypass toll post, Dr. Fazil Bashir, a senior official overseeing the department said.
He said that under the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000, a toll post was established earlier, where vehicles are required to pay taxes upon entering Srinagar city.
“The tax rates are specified as Rs 400 per truck for poultry items, Rs 600 for sheep, and Rs 1,000 for cattle such as cows and oxen. These measures aim to regulate the movement of livestock and ensure compliance with health and safety standards,” he added, noting that a drive was recently conducted to strengthen livestock monitoring and health inspections.
Dr. Fazil said the toll post has been operational for years and all trucks entering the city are mandated to stop, pay the requisite tax and undergo inspection. “However, recent incidents where some vehicles bypassed the checkpost prompted the SMC to establish mobile checking units near Tengpora Bypass and impose penalties on defaulters,” he added.
“At our checkpost, we also inspect for dead or unfit animals such as poultry and sheep. Any such carcasses are scientifically disposed of in our facilities,” Dr. Fazil said, mentioning that defaulters are only allowed to proceed after payment of fines.
Moreover, officials said that in addition to SMC inspections, departments such as Sheep Husbandry conduct health checkups of livestock to ensure compliance with safety and health standards.
They say this collaborative effort aims to prevent the entry of diseased or unsafe animals into the market, thereby safeguarding public health.
