Bicholim: Following in the footsteps of the Calangute panchayat, the
Bicholim Municipal council (BMC) has started impounding
stray cattle found on the main road.
The drive, which is a few days old, has already seen nearly 49 cattle being picked up and sent to the gaushala located at Shikerim, Mayem.
“The initiative has been undertaken for the benefit of people,” BMC chairperson Rajaram Gaonkar said.
BMC chief officer Vivek Naik said the civic body has signed an MoU with Gomantak Gosevak Mahasangh at Shikeri under which stray cattle in BMC’s jurisdiction will be
impounded under the provisions of Section 270 of the Goa Municipalities Act and kept at the Shikerim gaushala. He added that they have already issued a public notice warning cattle owners about impounding of stray cattle as well as the penal action they are likely to face, as laid under the provisions of Section 276 of the act. “So far, the BMC has identified about 300 stray cattle of which 49 have already been picked up and sent away.” He said the cost of catching the animals and transporting them to the gaushala will be borne by BMC. He hopes to achieve the stray cattle-free target by March 2020.