MARGAO
The municipal and other authorities were exposed hollow as a casual drive to impound stray cattle from the roads of Fatorda at the initiative of the district authorities revealed that the city had no cattle pound as a shelter for the animals.
Left with no option, the Fatorda police had to deploy constables at the veterinary hospital, Sonsodo, to protect the impounded cattle.
The incident occurred on Friday when the Fatorda police impound three stay cattle moving on the roads and disrupting traffic.
Fatorda Police station in-charge, PI Kapil Nayak, immediately called the MMC Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes and asked him to take possession of the stray cattle and shelter them at the cattle pound.
To the surprise of the police and the authorities, the Chief Officer replied back saying there’s no cattle pound in place to shelter the strays, pointing out that it was left damaged during the Cyclone Tauktae.
With options running out, the stray cattle were later sent to the veterinary hospital, Sonsodo, after the Chief Officer maintained that he would take custody of the animals once the cattle pound is repaired by next week.
After the cattle were sent to the veterinary hospital, sources said the officials also raised questions over the animals being kept near the Sonsodo office since the agency has no cattle pound to look after the strays.
In the meantime, Fatorda PI Kapil got back to the MMC Chief Officer to give the cattle to the police, fearing something untoward may happen to the animals.
“I have posted a constable to keep a watch on the stray cattle kept at the Sonsodo veterinary hospital. We will take an appropriate decision on the future of the cattle on Saturday,” PI Kapil said.
