CCP given the task of impounding
TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: The Goa government will launch a drive to remove stray cattle from the State highways from the first week of June, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar announced Friday, while speaking on the threat posed by stray cattle which even spread diseases.
The concern was raised by Opposition leader Pratapsing Rane in Goa Assembly Friday.
“We have already given Rs 25 lakh to the Corporation of the City of Panaji for the purpose of impounding cattle straying on highways all over Goa,” the chief minister informed, adding that once the mechanisms were in place, the exercise to impound the animals would begin from June.
Parrikar also told the House that the animals were vaccinated from time to time and one more round was scheduled in May ahead of the monsoons.
While agreeing to the need for vaccinating stray animals, the chief minister said, “I will also have a special officer from outside the department to monitor this activity.”
He agreed with the sentiments of the Opposition leader that stray cattle if not vaccinated could spread diseases and listed several animal diseases including Foot and Mouth disease for which they were not vaccinated.
Rane earlier said, “These stray cattle if not vaccinated can infect dairy animals purchased at high cost by farmers and could affect milk yield as well.”
“You are investing crores on schemes for farmers who are investing in expensive cattle and you need to take precaution that they do not get infected by such diseases which can spread upto to a distance of 50 kilometers thereby defeating the purpose of increasing milk yield,” he said.
Rane had moved a private member resolution in the Goa Assembly on Friday impressing on the government to have general vaccination programmes for stray animals all over the State, which will also eliminate hardships faced by farmers who could suffer losses if animals are affected by diseases such as Foot and Mouth etc.
…But the CCP Mayor has doubts
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: “However good the intention of the chief minister, I am afraid that CCP will not manage (to impound stray cattle along highways). I feel that he should have created a corporation under animal husbandry to look into this. As it is, the CCP cannot manage the stray dog menace in the city,” CCP Mayor Surendra Furtado said.
Furtado also said that he was not aware of any money being given to the corporation(for this purpose).
