MARGAO
Designed by Goan sculptor Subodh Kerkar, with the project sponsored by city-based realtor, Commonwealth Developers, under the company's CSR policy, stray cattle have literally made the beautified island their second home. And, the story is no different at the Bolshei traffic circle, Gogol, beautified by Credai, an association of builders, not so long ago, but today resembles a cattle pound, literally - throwing a moot question, whether the city has any Gaurakshas, Gaushalas or simply cattle pounds arou
nd to take care of the strays.
Sadly, the Margao Municipal Council threw up its hands, saying the civic body has no cattle pound to look after stray cattle. And, the Municipal's stand assumes significance given that the private enterprise, including Commonwealth Developers, Akar builders, Credai, Victor hospitals have come forward to develop the traffic islands under the CSR.
Says Datta Naik, Commonwealth Developers: "We have sponsored the traffic island opposite the post office as part of CSR. The project has cost us around Rs 15 lakh. Though we are supposed to look after the maintenance, tackling stray cattle will be difficult for us to handle."
Margao Municipal Council Chairperson, Babita Angle Prabhudesai expressed her helplessness in tackling the stray cattle menace. "I was passionately involved in the development of the Bolshie traffic island along with Credai. Today, the traffic island has been devastated by the stray cattle. Stray cattle taking shelter inside the traffic island is literally the order of the day. One finds cow dung littered all around the place," she lamented.
The MMC chairperson pointed out that she would discuss the issue with the Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes to find a way out to tackle the stray cattle. "May be, the district authorities have a scheme to impound the stray cattle. The Chief Officer can also find out whether any registered Gaurakshas or Gaushalas are available in the district to take care of the strays," she added.
Babita's helplessness in addressing the issue is understandable given that the Margao civic body has no mechanism to impound the stray cattle, which has only grown in numbers in recent times for want of a cattle pound.
The cattle pound at the MMC garbage at Old market, has been converted into a space for dumping of waste, with successive councils and chief officers only paying lip service to the burning issue of stray cattle staring at Margao.
Sadly, the Margao Municipal Council threw up its hands, saying the civic body has no cattle pound to look after stray cattle. And, the Municipal's stand assumes significance given that the private enterprise, including Commonwealth Developers, Akar builders, Credai, Victor hospitals have come forward to develop the traffic islands under the CSR.
Says Datta Naik, Commonwealth Developers: "We have sponsored the traffic island opposite the post office as part of CSR. The project has cost us around Rs 15 lakh. Though we are supposed to look after the maintenance, tackling stray cattle will be difficult for us to handle."
Margao Municipal Council Chairperson, Babita Angle Prabhudesai expressed her helplessness in tackling the stray cattle menace. "I was passionately involved in the development of the Bolshie traffic island along with Credai. Today, the traffic island has been devastated by the stray cattle. Stray cattle taking shelter inside the traffic island is literally the order of the day. One finds cow dung littered all around the place," she lamented.
The MMC chairperson pointed out that she would discuss the issue with the Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes to find a way out to tackle the stray cattle. "May be, the district authorities have a scheme to impound the stray cattle. The Chief Officer can also find out whether any registered Gaurakshas or Gaushalas are available in the district to take care of the strays," she added.
Babita's helplessness in addressing the issue is understandable given that the Margao civic body has no mechanism to impound the stray cattle, which has only grown in numbers in recent times for want of a cattle pound.
The cattle pound at the MMC garbage at Old market, has been converted into a space for dumping of waste, with successive councils and chief officers only paying lip service to the burning issue of stray cattle staring at Margao.
