TEAM HERALD
CANACONA: The recent attacks on tourists by stray cattle along the Canacona coast has exposed the failure of local bodies to adhere to a government notification on the impounding of stray cattle in public places.
Concerned about the presence of stray cattle in public places and the threat posed to pedestrians, motorists and tourists, the State government had issued a public notice in May 2013, declaring that a drive to impound stray cattle at public places would begin from June 15, 2013.
With the local bodies failing to implement this directive, tourists have been at the receiving end of attacks by stray cattle on beaches.
Over a month ago, a female tourist was seriously injured after she was brutally attacked by a stray cattle while she was walking on the Palolem beach. More recently, a wounded cow attacked some foreign tourists at Agonda beach on Saturday.
According to sources, some foreign tourists noticed a cow with burn injuries and tried to provide medical treatment to the cow.
As they came close to the wounded cow, the animal retaliated in defence by charging at one of the female tourists. In a desperate bid to save the woman, a male tourist rushed towards the cow, only to be attacked by the animal. He sustained serious leg injuries in the attack and had to receive medical treatment.
When contacted, Agonda Acting Sarpanch Pramod Phaldessai expressed helplessness in tackling the menace not only on Agonda beach, but also at public places like roads and open spaces in the village.
“No doubt, stray cattle have been posing a threat to the tourists but the panchayat is helpless in resolving the problem. We had appealed to the villagers for their support and assistance in impounding the stray cattle and the panchayat was even ready to pay them, but no one has come forward so far,” Phaldessai told Herald.
“The other problem is that some tourists are eager to show their concern to the stray cattle, but this only antagonizes the animals and they attack the tourists. This is what had happened at Agonda beach on Saturday,” he added.
According to sources, officials at the Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) are aware of a supreme court ruling on stray cattle causing nuances at public places as well as the State government’s public notice in May last years.
“However, it is not easy to act on this notice. In the past, some animal welfare activists had confronted the CMC after impounding over a dozen stray cattle for obstructing the highway traffic and causing nuisance in public places at Chaudi. After this bitter experience, the CMC has almost given up any efforts to undertake further impounding of stray cattle,” the CMC source told Herald.
Incidentally, while stray cattle pose a threat to tourists, some tourists seem to enjoy the presence of cattle on the beach and are seen clicking photos of their near and dear ones along with the animals.
