Mangaluru: A total of four cows were found dead at the Koorikatta gate of the New Mangaluru Port Trust (NMPT) over the last three days.
It is suspected that the cause of death is due to the irresponsible way of transporting loose cargo which falls off the carrier during transportation. It is also said that the NMPT authorities sprinkle water all over the place, which gets into the drains. Consumption of this water is also suspected to be the cause of the death of the cattle.
Animal care activists say that carelessness on the part of port officials led to the death of the cattle. According to them, the cows died after consuming either urea or potassium that is spilt during transportation. They pointed out that the NMPT staff sprinkle water on these deposits, which flows into the drains. The stray cattle, after consuming this water, have died, they claimed
Panambur Beach Development Chief Executive Officer Yathish Baikampady, when contacted told newskarnataka.com that immediate measures should be taken to ensure no such incidents would happen in the coming days. ” If the chemical mixed water would be allowed to flow into the drains, the water bodies of the surrounding areas would also get contaminated, which in turn leads to the ill health of the public also. Hence, officials should take it as a serious issue”, he said.
However, NMPT traffic manager Y R Belegal informed media that the NMPT does not move urea or any fertiliser through Koorikatta gate and there is no truth in the allegation.
