The number of accidents in the jurisdiction of Porvorim police station is increasing every year. In 2014, 309 accidents were registered, out which 12 were fatal. Most of them occurred on the National Highway 17 stretch from Mandovi Bridge to Alto-Porvorim bazaar.
Apart from rash and negligent driving, stray cattle are also an important reason for the accidents. Cattle wander on the highway as well as the internal roads of Penha de Franca, Socorro and Salvador do Mundo. They are a nuisance for motorists, especially at night. Several two-wheeler riders have suffered grievous injuries after colliding into cattle. The sodium vapour lamps used for illuminating the NH-17 stop functioning several times, due to which cattle squatting on the road cannot be seen by motorists at night. Accidents inevitably take place. It’s the same with the internal roads of the three aforementioned villages. Socorro villagers had raised the stray cattle issue in the gram sabha on July 26 and urged the panchayat to take action.
As per Section 112-A of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, it is mandatory for panchayats to have public cattle pounds and to appoint pound keepers with the approval of the Panchayat Director. As per Section 112-C of the Act, it is duty of the police, panchayat or Block Development Officer (BDO) to seize cattle that was straying within the panchayat’s jurisdiction and confine the same to the public pound.
Porvorim plateau comes under the jurisdiction of four panchayats: Penha de Franca, Salvador do Mundo, Socorro and Pilerne-Marra. However, these panchayats, Porvorim police, and the BDO are not bothered about seizing stray cattle and fining their owners.
Activist and Secretary of Porvorim Welfare Residents Association Juino D’Souza stated that despite the panchayats were not performing their duties despite the Panchayat Raj Act. He added, “The panchayats and government must take up their share of responsibility in handling this problem. The concrete and coordinated efforts to seize stray cattle and penalize their owners will go a long way in reducing the chances of accidents.”
