Team Herald
MARGAO: Shockingly, the Margao Municipal Council’s shed for impounded cattle at old market has turned into the storage room and the long pending issue of stray cattle menace continues to haunt the commercial town of Margao.
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Speaking to Herald, residents have expressed anger over the issue and urged the Margao Municipal Council to take this issue seriously. The public has also demanded to put in place the cattle pound located at old market, Margao.
Herald has further revealed that the cattle pound shed has turned into a storage room for the MMC, as one can find dustbins, tyres, broken chairs and all other materials dumped inside. The roof of the shed is almost on the verge of collapse.
However, the civic body has defended by saying that instruction has been already given to the concerned workers to remove all the materials from the shed in order to make place for the impounded stray cattle.
It is pertinent to note that this issue of stray cattle menace is one of the long pending problems which the public and the commuters are struggling to get rid of. The previous records shows that the civic body has completely failed to resolve the issue, and put in place the mechanism in this regard.
On the other hand, the stray cattle continue to create hurdles before the commuters, leading to accidents. Here in the heart of Margao town stray cattle are an eyesore. These cattle occupy entire roads and footpaths in many places.
It has been witnessed that several stray cattle can be found on the footpaths and middle of the roads even in the daytime. There are reports of accidents due to the same in the past.
Reportedly in November 2021, even Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes through the public notice had warned that cattle will be impounded and sent to gaushala, if found on the streets or on footpaths within the civic body’s jurisdiction. However, nothing much has been seen from the MMC in this regard.
The town residents including senior citizens who walk along the municipal garden footpath, early mornings and late evenings complained to the Chief Officer about the stray cattle menace and the presence of cow dung on the footpaths.
The CO is on record that the footpaths and passages are meant for people and have to be maintained.
Speaking to Herald Roland Martins, Coordinator GOACAN said that the issue of stray cattle must be taken up in right earnest by the Margao Municipal Council.
“There is a need for MMC to have a Plan of Action in collaboration with the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AHVS) Department and the Animal Welfare Organisation having a shelter for stray cattle,” he stated.
Cedric da Costa, resident of Margao said one can find stray cattle in front of the South Goa Administrator and Comunidade Building along Margao Municipal Garden.
“If only some concerned authority looked out of the window, they would see it all, and if any authority had a conscience of his tax payer funded take home salary, they would act on this offence,” he stated.
The CO said, “The civic body has already initiated the action and sent a few stray cattle to the gaushalas.”
“The municipal workers are already at work to keep an eye on the stray cattle. We have identified certain places where cattle are found on the roads and footpaths creating hurdles before the commuters and public in general,” MMC Chairperson Lyndon Pereira said.
