MARGAO: After failing to implement the action plan, despite citizens consistently raising the stray cattle issue, Margao Municipal Council is now planning to outsource the work to tackle the menace in the State’s commercial capital.
MMC chairperson Damodar Shirodkar informed O Heraldo that the council is planning to outsource the work pertaining to stray cattle. It may be recalled that recently, a Navelim lawyer had served a legal notice to the MMC and alleged that the civic authorities failed to resolve the stray cattle menace, wherein the lawyer had even warned of possible contempt proceedings if the council failed to respond.
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It is pertinent to note that stray cattle menace has resulted in major problems resulting in several accidents, even during the late night. Stray cattle are found in the middle of the road at several places including near Kadamba Bus Stand, Navelim junction, Rawandond road and even in Margao town.
A year ago, councillor Vitorino Tavares had raised the issue wherein he had found some stray cattle dead on the road after being hit by vehicles.
The chairperson said that in absence of the required manpower, the civic body is unable to tackle the problem.
“However, the civic body is now planning to outsource the work of handling the stray cattle so that the issue is resolved. The plans are in the pipeline but soon action will be taken,” he informed.
The stray cattle have made the roads in the town their home, with the municipal authorities least interested to crack a whip against these animals. Despite a cattle pound maintained in the Old Market area, hardly any stray cattle have been impounded in recent years, with workers entrusted with the cattle pound, utilised for other works.
The citizens alleged that the issue of stray cattle roaming on town roads posing danger to motorists has cropped up once again and demand a permanent solution. While the civic body has been finding it difficult to run the dog shelter given the magnitude of the stray menace, the cattle pound is almost empty for want of cattle. At the moment, the cattle impound in the Old Market has turned into a storage room.
Previous records show that the civic body has completely failed to resolve the issue, and put in place a mechanism in this regard.
Adv Valencia L Mendonca highlighted the authorities’ negligence in addressing the menace caused by stray cattle, which pose a threat to schoolchildren, commuters, and other travellers on NH 66.
