Cattle mowed down on NH-66 @ Madditolop (Loliem-Polem)

Goemkarponn desk
CANACONA: In most inhumane cruelty, five Cattles including three Cows and a Dog were mowed down by an unknown Inter-State laoded vehicle late Wednesday night at Madditolop in Loliem-Polem village.
One of the Cows showed signs of life till Thursday morning however was not even in a position to hold its head, nor couldn’t drink water offered by passersby had reportedly died later in the day.
The mowing down of the cattle on the highway road passing through Loliem-Polem village has, however, opened up a different kind of battle between the villagers and PWD(Highway) authorities.
Angry villagers, including the outgoing panch members of Loliem-Polem village Panchayat, refusing to remove the Carcasses, were awaiting the arrival of PWD(Highways) officials to dispose of the same.
However, by afternoon time, seeing no signs of PWD officials, residents using a JCB disposed of the four cattle lying dead on the spot.
Seeing the injured cow in a precarious situation ( though breathing, it’s unmovable and stomach had swollen and blood oozing out from its rectum), passersby, reportedly requisitioning a Pickup, had lifted it to take its care and its date is clearly not known. However, sources stated it would be a miracle if the badly injured canine was saved.
Though it is not known when exactly the accident occurred, sources pointed out that a heavy vehicle speeding towards Margao during the wee hours of Thursday knocked down the canines, which were straying in the middle of the road, and drove away.
Incidentally, the incident occurred near Highway restaurant – Fishland, which operates even late night hours catering to Highway motorists at Madditolop.
Locals stating they were hurt at the behaviour of PWD (Highways) for not inviting nor involving a village Sarpanch and ward panch during an inauguration of a bridge built on Highway in the village recently, initially had refused to attend to remove the Carcasses lying on the middle of the road.
‘If locals/local body have nothing to do with the development of Highway passing through the village, then let PWD also carry out the disposal of dead cattle killed on the highway’, outgoing Sarpanch had said, who inspite of being a sarpanch during Maxem Bridge inauguration (Inaugurated at the hands of Speaker and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar). However, feeling the seen as unbearable, later in the afternoon, engaged a JCB belonging to former Sarpanch Ajay Lolienkar to dispose of the carcasses.
‘We have a number of such incidents taking place on the highway road in the village jurisdiction, but contrary to what PWD has taken the stand, Villagers did their service’, stated an Ex-Panch.
Sources also pointed out the dog owner himself took and disposed of his Pets body.