TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: A common cattle pound for the three villages of Assolna, Velim and Ambelim was what was conceptualised by the three villages Panchayats to overcome the cattle menace by keeping the strays at bay.
In fact, it’s not uncommon to find complaints of destruction of agricultural fields by stray cattle and spate of road accidents due to the cattle menace in these villages. Yet, the idea of a common cattle pound for the three village has not seen the light of the day.
When Herald contacted the Sarpanch of Ambelim village Panchayat, Loretta D’Silva to throw light on the status of the cattle pound, she said the three village Panchayats have already identified the land, and efforts are to get the land surveyed and demarcated before other things fall in place.
“All the three village Panchayats have identified a common land in Ambelim village to build a cattle pound. The owner has agreed to earmark a portion of the land to house the stray cattle,” she said.
Her Velim counterpart, Melvyn Sanches, said the three panchayat bodies had taken the first step of identifying the land in question. “What is now required is that the panchayat bodies enter into an agreement with the land owner for a long lease upon payment of rent. Once this is done, the three panchayats will move the government for financial assistance towards the setting up of the cattle pound,” he added.
Replying to a question, Sanches said a meeting of the three panchayats will be called soon to deliberate on the issue before approaching the government for help. “There are government schemes governing the cattle pound functioning. Once the land is taken into possession, we will move the government for funds,” he added.
Incidentally, the question of having a common cattle pound for the three villages of Assolna, Velim and Ambelim had cropped over during the previous term of the panchayats, but has not made much headway till date.
The Velim sarpanch admitted that stray cattle has made life miserable for two-wheeler riders and have wrought havoc for the farmers from the three villages, destroying their paddy.
