PANAJI
The State government is toying with the idea of starting a 24x7 ambulance service for cattle.
Confirming this, Animal Husbandry Minister Nilkanth Halarankar on Sunday said an ambulance service akin to 108 Service would be started in both the districts to pick up or shift cattle that have been hit by vehicles or those that are sick.
"This service will be started in 2-3 months and will be available 24x7", Halarnkar said.
The Animal Husbandry Department has implemented a scheme (stray cattle management scheme) for management of stray cattle with an incentive to gaushalas to look after stray cattle. However the gaushalas are finding it difficult to locate stray cattle and shift them as they are lacking resources.
Halarnkar said, gaushalas will get resources as this will also be part of the initiative.
It may be noted that municipalities such as Mapusa, Sanquelim and Bicholim and Corporation of the City of Panaji together with 34 panchayats which have major roads passing through their villages have signed a MoU with local gaushalas for management of stray cattle.
There are also gaushalas in Valpoi, Mayem, Surla and Marcel which are attached to the Animal Husbandry Department and are entitled to carry out animal shelter work.
