The problem of stray cattle is aggravating with every passing day. From villages to towns, and from bylanes of a ward to the national highway, stray cattle seem to have more freedom than motorists and pedestrians using the road.
Stray cattle occupy the busy National Highway 66 at Birla Cross near the Verna Industrial Estate. During the wee hours (see pics) these cattle pose a serious threat to motorists as more than often the streetlights are not illuminated and vehicles move at a high speed.
Local fish and vegetable vendors travel in the early hours before dawn to fetch commodities and then travel back to their respective villages to sell the products in the markets. Fish, vegetables and fruit carrying heavy vehicles from neighbouring States use the national highway to transport the products across Goa.
Newspaper vans travel from North to South and vice versa to deliver newspapers to the agents. It is also the time when the early morning flights arrive and depart from the Dabolim International Airport and taxis ferry passengers arriving or departing by these flights.
If that is not enough, there are heavy vehicles carrying goods from the Verna IDC to various parts of the country and heavy vehicles carrying goods from across India and the Mormugao Port travel to various industrial units within and outside Goa.
The death Mahadeo Deshmukh last week highlights the grave dangers of stray cattle squatting in the middle of the road. The 62-year-old father, who was on a scooter alongwith his daughter travelling to Birla Cross when a bull charged and knocked them down. Deshmukh succumbed to injuries while being transported to the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC).
Despite the Chief Minister acknowledging that 25 per cent of road accidents are due to stray cattle menace, there is little action on the ground. When will the administration begin to take the stray cattle problem seriously?