Team Herald
PANJIM: All Goa Poultry Farmers Cooperative Society Limited have demanded immediate action against those demanding money at the check-post from vehicles transporting farms birds from neighbouring States.
According to Society members, on October 20, their vehicles transporting farm birds were stopped at Dodamarg border by a group of people claiming to be part of an Association formed in the last 10 months and demanded Rs 35,000 from their drivers. They also alleged that this ‘money’ demand was made by the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services. They were told to buy QR code by paying Rs 35,000 per vehicle from their organisation.
But when the society members approached the director of animal husbandry and veterinary services, they were told that that the department had not issued any directions or orders. They also approached the Minister for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Nilkanth Halarnkar, who was surprised that such a claim was made by some persons and told them to file a police complaint.
The society members went to the Bicholim police station where the police officer told them that they will have to buy the QR code and he shared a mobile phone number of one of the assistant directors of animal husbandry and veterinary services.
“We called the director again and he assured us that he is not entitled to give any QR code or anything to do with the organisation,” the society members stated, appealing to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to take strict action against those who are disturbing the peace and their business. They have demanded that such organisations/mafia should not allowed to use the government machinery for their personal gains.
Two days back, the All Goa Poultry Farmers and Traders Association (AGPFTA) president Jaikrishna Naik had rejected the claims made by certain chicken shop vendors that the association had stopped the entry of chicken-importing vehicles at the Goa border check-post.
When contacted Minister of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Nilkanth Halarnkar said, “there is no such legislation to charge money from vehicles transporting farms birds from other States. The government is not authorised to stop these vehicles. They should either ask them to produce government circular or should lodge police complaints.”