Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AHVS) has declared that it will start rigorously implementing its five-month-old notification about the impounding of cattle because registered cattle are still wandering around unsupervised on the streets, causing a nuisance.
As a deterrence, the department will also levy fines and cancel subsidies given to these cattle owners.
On September 6, 2024, the government issued a notification warning that dairy farmers using programs like Kamdhenu and Pashupalan would be banned and blacklisted if any of the animals they buy were discovered wandering in public spaces or on roads. This was done in response to the growing threat posed by stray cattle.
AHVS Director Nitin Naik said they still receive complaints about registered livestock, even though none have been formally classified as straying or abandoned.
“Complaints are received, but we have not discovered any registered cattle wandering unaccompanied. Therefore, we have made the decision to strictly implement the notification, which includes penalizing negligent owners and removing subsidies,” Naik told The Goan. However, the penalty amount has not yet been finalized by the department.
Naik emphasized that since 2012, thousands of Goans had benefited from these programs. Dairy producers and the public are instructed under the program to make sure their cattle are kept under stall-feeding procedures or any other management system that keeps them from wandering onto public roads or areas.
According to the announcement, any unattended animal discovered on public property or on a road will be promptly seized by the relevant authorities in accordance with the State’s current laws and regulations.
Some cattle are nevertheless left unattended in spite of this. When challenged about this possibility, Naik responded, “Those who are on the roads with humans will not be subject to penalties.”
He added that with the help of the closest local NGOs, AHVS officers had already been instructed to seize stray livestock. The NGOs, who have been given trucks by the department, will transport these cattle to gaushalas (cattle shelters).