In a strange incident, two goats were taken into police custody on September 10 in Huzurabad, Karimnagar district, Telangana, for grazing on saplings which were planted under the government initiative ‘Telanganaku Haritha Haram’.The "culprits" were caught red-handed by the activists and handed over to the police. They were detained at the police station and tied to a pole on the premises. The two goats were only let free after the municipal authorities charged a fine of Rs 1000 on the owner. According to the activists of 'Save The Trees', the two goats grazed and destroyed about 250 saplings of almond planted under the Huzurabad municipality.

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Haritha Haram: plantation drive by the state govt

The NGO had planted over 980 almond saplings at different public offices and hospitals and reported the goats destroyed and ate away around 250 of them. On the other hand, the police official further clarified that it was not an arrest as there is no section in the Indian Penal Code to arrest or punish the animals. An official said they handed over the goats to its owners after he paid the penalty and warned him not to graze goats on the saplings planted in public places. This is the first incident of detainment of goats as police officials have been imposing fines on owners.'Haritha Haram' is a massive plantation drive taken up by the state government.

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Goat Owner fined Rs 10000

Another incident was reported from the same place where a sheep rearer was fined Rs 10,000 after his goats were caught grazing on the saplings planted under 'Haritha Haram'.The incident took place on Wednesday in Narayanpet when District Collector Venkata Rao found the goats grazing on the saplings on the outskirts of Makthal town. As a part of the plantation drive, the government has spent a huge amount of money to plant saplings and maintain them. All the state government departments have their share in the initiative. Each and every department has been given its target to plant saplings and take care of them.

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