Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Oct 20: With the October 22 deadline approaching, Goa's Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services has not received survey reports on stray dogs and cattle from any panchayat or civic body, raising concerns over compliance with the High Court's directions.

Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Dr Nitin Naik said the department would compile the data after the deadline and identify local bodies that had submitted their reports and those that had failed to do so.

“So far, we have not received any material from any of the panchayats or civic bodies. In any case, the deadline to submit the surveys is October 22. Once we receive the details, we will compile the information on how many have submitted and how many have not, and present that record before the High Court,” Naik said.

The issue assumes significance as the matter is scheduled to come up before the High Court on October 26, leaving the department just four days after the submission deadline to assess compliance and present consolidated information before the court.

Acting on the High Court's directions, the Directorate of Panchayats had instructed local bodies across Goa to conduct surveys of stray dogs and cattle within their respective jurisdictions.

The exercise covers all 191 village panchayats, 13 municipal councils and the Corporation of the City of Panaji.

The survey aims to establish the scale of the stray animal population across the state and help authorities plan appropriate measures to address the issue. Stray dogs and cattle on public roads remain a concern due to risks to public safety, traffic movement and the challenges faced by local authorities in managing them.

With no survey reports received so far, the department now faces the task of ensuring that local bodies complete the exercise and submit their findings within the stipulated timeframe.