PERNEM: Loitering stray cattle on the roads of Pernem causing traffic blocks and minor accidents is a major issue that the local authorities of Pernem should deal with.
Not only the Pernem town but villages on coastal belt are also facing the same menace. The people commuting on NH17 are also not spared as abandoned cattle squat on the middle of the road especially during late evening causing hindrance to the motorists, accidents and sometimes the fights between them are creating traffic congestion.
Though there is no fulltime cattle shed anywhere in Pernem, the issue is on rise since more and more people have begun to abandoned their cattle because the farmers have started moving towards mechanised way of farming leaving aside the traditional style.
In the past, the farmers used to take care of cattle. Every household owing cattle had an independent shelter as there were used in farming activities and milking.
It is learnt that the issue of cattle menace comes up for discussion in gram sabhas of every village panchayat. However, till date none of the panchayat members have taken serious action on this issue while leaving the cattle to suffer on the streets/roads.
“All the panchayats and municipality should implement the technique of inserting chip in body of abandoned cattle to track them with details of the owners and if found loitering then the owner should be fined. If this cannot happen then at least the abandoned cattle should be shifted to safe place,” a local Prasad Palyekar suggested.
“There is need for cattle shed in Pernem. Since the number of farmers and cattle is high in Pernem. If single panchayat cannot afford to build a cow shed and take care of them then two or three panchayats should come together and build a single shed. This will help the cattle to rest as well as the expanse will be reduced. Local authorities need to take serious action on this issue on urgent basis,” another local Rupesh Naik said.
In Hindu religion, there was a ritual in Naibagh Village of Pernem taluka, where people use to offer cow to Goddess Satiyadevi. As per this ritual, people offer cow and then the same cow is worshipped as cow of Goddess and suppose to take care of this offered cow till it dies. However, from last few years, these offered cows are left abandoned to survive on their own. Due to this negligence, today around 50 cattle can be found loitering around on the road of Naibagh throughout day and night causing inconvenience to the daily commuters.
According to the sources, the Pernem Municipal Council has a shelter for abandoned cattle. However, due to budget constrain and lack of manpower, it is inactive for long time.
