VASCO: The menace of stray cattle and dogs along the BRICS route, if not tackled, could put the image of the state in a bad light especially when the international summit involving countries like Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa is just a day away. The four-lane NH17B, which is the main route along which the delegates and leaders of the above countries and ours as well would be passing in their motorcades upon their landing at Dabolim airport, is facing the stray cattle problem.
It is observed that while the state administration has given all attention to getting the NH17B from Dabolim airport to Verna hot-mixed carpeted and other stretches of the summit points along the coastal belt of Mormugao and Salcete, the problem of stray cattle and dogs has been hardly addressed.
The strays can pose obstruction to smooth flow of the motorcades if they are left to wander and squat on the roads, especially along the BRICS routes.
For instance, the NH17B, which is one of the busiest routes in the state, is a common sight of wandering stray cattle and dogs. This has been admitted by the police itself who have been deployed at various points in view of the BRICS Summit.
“The cow dung patches can also pose another problem for the movement of motorcades of VVIPs. The dung could spoil the surface of the NH17B which has been hot-mixed carpeted,” stated a police officer, while speaking to this daily. He said efforts will be made to prevent stray cattle and dogs straying onto the NH17B from internal roads.
When contacted deputy collector and sub-divisional magistrate, Mormugao, Gaurish Shankhwalkar, he said that all arrangements have been made to tackle the problem of stray cattle and dogs along the routes from Dabolim airport to the BRICS venues.
“The NH17B has been given special attention wherein the Mormugao municipal authority has been directed by the district collector to impound stray dogs from Dabolim airport area upto Sancoale, while the deputy director of panchayats has been asked to keep a watch on the stray cattle and stray dogs along the NH17B,” stated Shankhwalkar.