Team Herald
PANJIM: The State government is considering to amend the Goa Stray Cattle Management Scheme with a focus to make the cattle shelters ‘gaushalas’ self-sustainable.
Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai, in the presence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant inaugurated a gaushala, first of its kind dedicated to the shelter and maintenance of Shwet Kapila, indigenous breed of cows in Goa, at Raj Bhavan.
Speaking to mediapersons, Sawant said that in order to overcome any mishaps owing to stray cattle on roads, it is important to have dedicated shelters for such cattle across all 12 talukas.
Sawant said that the Animal Husbandry Department is directed to make necessary changes to the Goa Stray Cattle Management Scheme to make the sheltering cattle self-sustainable.
According to the scheme, the stray cattle menace is to be controlled by appointing an agency to impound them. Funds allocated for the scheme are Rs 2 crore per year.
The agency here could be the local municipality, panchayat, animal welfare organisation or gaushala, which has to ensure removal of stray cattle from public areas without injuring them.
Speaking about gaushala at Raj Bhavan, Sawant said that this could be an added attraction to the tourists.
On the occasion of the Prime Minister’s birthday, the Chief Minister and Governor also inaugurated Bonsaiyog garden at the premises.
Meanwhile, to mark the celebration, Governor Pillai said, “Raj Bhavan will provide financial aid to a total of 216 patients by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s next birthday.
Ten patients of each disease were provided financial relief on Saturday.
