Stray cattle menace is increasing on the Sodiem-Siolim road thus causing a number of accidents, including fatal ones. Very often pedestrians end up getting gored as they walk along. Most of the farmers in the village avail of various government schemes and let the cattle fend for themselves.
The animals then end up on the roads creating traffic blockades and at night squat in the middle of the road creating problems for motorists. The issue has been debated at gram sabhas but has not been solved till date.
The government had recently warned dairy farmers benefiting from Kamdhenu and Pashuhupalan scheme that they would be debarred and blacklisted if any of their animals they purchase were found wandering by the roadside.
In a notification issued on September 6, the Directorate of Animal Husbandry an Veterinary services had also warned that the entire amount availed under various schemes would be recovered from erring farmers and their animals straying on the road would be impounded.
The department further stated that any animal belonging to any beneficiary availing welfare schemes of the department including milk incentives, dairy equipment scheme, etc, the owner of such cattle will be permanently debarred from availing the benefits of government schemes and blacklisted.
Seems like the notifications and warnings are only on paper but the ground reality is still the same.
Will the authorities crackdown with an iron hand and implement the rules in letter and spirit before there are more tragedies on the road due to stray cattle?