The roads throughout our State have potholes and are also filled with stray cattle making the motorists extremely vulnerable to accidents.
Although, Panjim is the capital city it is not spared of stray cattle menace whilst driving on its pathetic potholed roads thereby causing obstruction to the smooth flow of traffic and even causing accidents.
As such a problem existed some years ago, hampering tourism, road traffic, the Goa Stray Cattle Management Scheme was notified earlier in 2013 for the State appointing Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services and Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) as the implementing agency. The scheme envisaged that the CCP catch the stray cattle from the roads, beaches, fields and public places, impounding them, looking after the seized animals during the holding period, and transporting them in a specialised State vehicle to the government cattle pound at Kalay with the government grants. A monthly lump sum of Rs 4.50 lakh had to be paid by DAHVS to the CCP towards this endeavour.
However, in mid 2014, the scheme was discontinued as it was reported by the DAHVS that the CCP could not undertake the task throughout the State of Goa as a single agency due to practical difficulties. In 2015, the same scheme was modified by the government to include all municipal and panchayat bodies, animal welfare organisations and goshalas.
Thus, every local self-body is responsible to get rid of the stray cattle menace in their respective area with the necessary measures of clearing the roads to avoid accidents. Lately, due to cattle straying, there have been serious accidents involving motorists on the major roads in and around the State.
When the State and Central authorities are promoting development of roads to improve the flow of traffic and have chosen Panjim as a Smart City with an Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd set up as a company which is wholly owned by the State government with the Central funds for modernisation of Panjim infrastructure, the CCP must take the lead to clear the stray cattle of its roads and cannot continue to be a silent spectator.
