PONDA: The Stray Cattle Management Scheme 2013 seems to have no takers in Ponda taluka despite the government making budgetary provision by providing incentives to municipalities and panchayats to impound and shelter stray cattle.
The scheme was modified this year to provide attractive incentives to municipalities and panchayats to impound and shelter stray cattle.
When Herald surveyed most parts in Ponda taluka, it was revealed that many stray cattle were found squatting along the main road opposite the Marcaim Industrial Estate. During the night, cattle herds were even seen sitting along the road resulting in traffic jams.
“There are 19 panchayats in Ponda taluka with eighteen of them having cattle pounds excluding Curti. However, none of them have implemented the scheme which has resulted in cattle taking shelter on roads posing grave danger to motorists,” said BDO Prasidh Naik.
The secretaries of these 19 panchayats during their meeting with the Ponda BDO claimed that the panchayats in the taluka are facing this menace and despite having a cattle pound not a single stray cattle has been impounded. Ponda BDO Prasidh Naik at the meeting has directed 19 panchayats to publish public notices by October 28. The BDO also asked these panchayats to hold gram sabhas directing the public to register their cattle with the panchayats within a month.
He also directed the secretaries to fine the owners if their cattle were found along road and that the cattle wandering along road will be treated strays. These strays in turn would be impounded and later sold to the farmers at an auction.
Naik called upon the civic bodies to discharge their duties with responsibility by keeping the roads and public places cattle free.
There is a directive for the local bodies under the Goa Municipalities Act to implement the provision relating to the stray animals, and construct cattle pounds in their respective areas.
