Justin D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Aug 8: Deputy commissioner of this district, Hephsiba Rani Korlapati, said that Livestock Logistics Control app has been prepared for use in Dakshina Kannada district for safe and legal transportation of cattle. She asked regional transport officer and deputy director in the department of animal husbandry to initiate steps to adopt similar app in this district.
She was speaking after presiding over the general session of Udupi District Prani Daya Sangha at the auditorium of the deputy commissioner's office on Wednesday August 7.
She said that once every cattle transportation gets registered in the said app, the registration number of vehicle and transporter's details would be readily available. In such a scenario, it would be easy to identify who is legally transporting the cattle and who is not, she pointed out.
District superintendent of police, Nisha James, said that in most of the illegal cattle trafficking cases, cattle roaming on the streets are involved. The deputy commissioner said that there is a move to take steps against cattle owners who allow their animals to roam around in streets, and also regarding extending protection to cows on the streets at the concerned panchayat level. She said that a circular in this respect would be sent to all the panchayats through the zilla panchayat chief executive officer in this regard.
Noting that private institutions which are involved with taking care of the cattle have been demanding financial assistance from the government for this task, she asked the cow shelter and other institutions involved with protecting such cattle to get themselves registered without fail. Noting that there is shortage of space for the maintenance of cows as the number of registered cattle shelters is less, she asked the officials to pool information on this fact, and take steps in every taluk to set up temporary night shelter system to treat animals including dogs which might be injured in the accidents and look them after till they are healed.
She advised the district Prani Daya Sangha to convene meetings once in four months in order to actively take part in activities. She asked the concerned to issue identity cards to registered cow shelters and other institutions and to their staff. She advised them to hold awareness programmes for protection of animals by targetting schools. She advised the Sangha to identify the schools which provide water and food to birds during summer in school buildings or compounds, and to honour such institutions.
Sri Dwarakamai, Sai Santwana Mandir Trust (R) appealed to the deputy commissioner to provide permanent solution to the problem of shortage of land for disposing off the carcasses of animals which die in accidents. Discussions were also held about destruction of crops in Kudi village on account of wild animals, problem of street dogs in Gangolli port, setting up of night shelters for street dogs, and opening of new cattle shelters.
Deputy director of animal husbandry, Dr Sarvotham Udupa, informed that as against the need of 145 veterinarians in the district, only 36 are functioning now. He said that anti rabies vaccine has been administered to 3,325 dogs in the district with the support of animal husbandry department, local administrations and voluntary service organizations, duly adding that 124 dogs were sterilized through surgical procedures. He added that during the current year, so far three illegal cattle slaughter cases and 11 illegal cattle transportation cases have been registered.
At the beginning, the meeting condoled he demise of former union external affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj.
Officials of different departments, members of Prani Daya Sangha and others were present at the programme.