Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660
Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scheme to make roads free from stray cattle yet to take effect --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When the scheme was first notified in January 16 last, its avowed objective was three-fold: To make all roads and footpaths, highways free from stray cattle; to free beaches from cattle menace and to make farmers responsible for their own animals grazing on other's fields, gardens sans a shepherd.
Ask the Animal Husbandry whether these objectives stands achieved or not, and one only gets an answer - eight months since the issue of notification, that the government's first cattle pound is under construction at Kalay in Sanguem taluka.
Information reveals that the sheds stands erected at the farm. Only work on the compound wall need to be completed. When exactly the farm will start operating is not clear. Says Dr A S Nazareth, Director of Animal Husbandry: "The construction work is taken by the PWD. They will inform us the moment the work is completed".
But, will a lone cattle pound for entire Goa an answer to the stray cattle menace. When asked whether the Kalay cattle pound is a feasible proposition, Dr Nazareth evaded a direct reply by saying "things will be known only after the pound start functioning.
And, how and who will transport the cattle pound from the nook and corner of Goa to Sanguem. No doubt, the January 16 notification cast responsibility on impounding (catching & transportation) of stray cattle. The provision read like this:
The Director of Animal Husbandry and veterinary services will be responsible to catch the stray cattle from the roads, beaches and fields and transport the same to the government cattle pound.
The Animal Husbandry Director, however, says that local bodies such as municipalities, panchayats, Zilla panchayats and the police will have to assist them to transport the cattle to the farm.
"These bodies have legal powers to deal with stray cattle. They cannot abdicate their responsibility just because of the new scheme", he added.
Local bodies such as the district Zilla Panchayat, South, however, sounded sceptical over the stand of Animal Husbandry department. Asked Chairperson, Nelly Rodrigues: "How is a ZP or a panchayat body to assist the department sans adequate financial provision". She added saying that casting responsibility on other bodies for transportation may put spokes in the wheels of the scheme.
What has taken the ZP members by surprise is a reply by the Director of Animal Husbandry, wherein he has clearly said that the ZP can make arrangement to send the cattle at Kalay on completion of the farm.
"The department will inform the ZP upon completion of cattle shed at Kalay so that the ZP can make arrangement to send the cattle at the farm", the reply said.
"How can the ZP make arrangement for transportion of the strays. We will discuss the matter at our next ZP meeting", Rodrigues said. -------------------------------- HERALD 16/9/03 page 5 --------------------------------
======================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 Tel: 2252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.goadesc.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy =======================================
##########################################################################
# Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts #
# More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others #
##########################################################################
