SANGUEM: A villager Manguesh Kushta Gaonkar from Nundem ward of Netravali panchayat complained that his cow was killed by a leopard on January 28.
Gaonkar informed that this is not for the first time that cattle are being attacked and killed in the village. The incidences of attacks on cattle are however on an increasing trend in the recent times.
“I immediately brought the incident to the knowledge of the Forest Department, which took the incident lightly and gave a small amount to him towards labour charges to bury the half eaten cow,” he alleged.
Abhijit Dessai informed that ever since the notification declaring Nettavali village as eco sensitive zone, the villagers are residing in constant fear of animals as they are enjoying an upper hand in the village. They are on the rampage in the village. Besides, the attacks on cattle and other livestock, Bisons, wild boars and peacocks are constantly entering into agricultural plantations and causing extreme damages.
The Forest Department also does not compensate the villagers for the losses suffered, informed Dessai and sought for some sort of mechanism to be put in place for awarding compensation to the farmers whenever their crops and other livestock is damaged by wild animals.
