VASCO: The construction of a shed for stray cattle appears to be distant dream, with the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) failing to set up a mechanism to impound strays causing great inconvenience to the residents.
It may be recalled that MMC chairperson Damodar Kaskar had said that the council does not have a cattle shed. It is pertinent to note that few councillors had discussed the issue with regards to cattle deaths in the Mormugao constituency with the Urban Development Minister Milind Naik. Many such cases were also referred to Veterinary Department and some stray cattle were sent to a non-profit organisation from South Goa which provided shelter to strays.
When asked whether the MMC has any plans to tackle the stray cattle menace, Kaskar said he will look into the matter.
Sources in the municipality said People for Animal situated on the outskirts of the port town provides medical aid to the injured cattle. Due to space constraints the injured cattle are sent to Dhyan Foundation’s Cattle shelter in Avedem.
Former councillor Krishna Salkar, who is also a member of Murgao Hindu Samaj, a Vasco-based socio-cultural organisation, said two years ago, there was a proposal to construct a cattle shed near the Hindu crematorium at Khariwado, however the same was opposed by some councillors during the council meeting.
He said a site was also identified at Gandhinagar but the dream of constructing a shed for stray cattle never turned into a reality.
Some Vasco residents felt that MMC has totally failed in managing the stray cattle menace in Vasco. Several accidents have been reported in the past as the stray cattle squat on the road and suddenly move.
