It is really extremely strange that for months, cattle move about around Margao Municipal Council building, as if they belong there or have some work there, and yet the council takes no action whatsoever in having them impounded.
It is not alone that they squat on the main road, disturbing the traffic, but they dirty footpaths and the area around with excreta. This was common sight on the footpath along Bharat Café, beside Bank of India. Of late, they have shifted to more prominent areas such as the footpaths around the Municipal Garden, particularly on the eastern side of the garden, opposite the Comunidade building. In fact, every morning, almost the entire length of the footpath is full of cow dung, disturbing early morning walkers who are forced into another exercise of jumping around to avoid the mess, which is often made worse with rains and dew.
In fact, a couple of days back, when we had a protest against the arrest of Fr Stan Swamy, SJ, the demonstrators had to walk through the mess, trying to avoid the excreta spread almost through half the route.
Incidentally, Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardesai, Chairperson Pooja Naik and a few councillors were among those walking along. The MLA apparently commented adversely about it, at the site, asking why the council could not take action, and this was reported by a popular Marathi newspaper. It was truly a dirty and nauseating sight for all the participants and a shame for Madganvkars.
However, perhaps not for the MMC, which despite complaints both to the Chairperson and the Chief Officer have failed to take any action. Several people, particularly senior citizens, who use the footpaths for morning walks and daily chores are upset with the inaction of MMC. They feel that the only reason why MMC is refusing to act is because the cattle could either belong to some MMC staff or their relatives or to some favourites of the council or its members.
Madganvkars who, after very long, are having a good gentleman as Chief Officer, are hoping that he will soon take strong action to ensure that we are not subject to this nuisance anymore and he will take special pains to give us a cleaner Margao than what we have seen so far.
