Mangaluru: New Mangaluru Port Trust over the years has achieved significant progress in terms of cargo handling. With growing business comes a lot of responsibilities, one being the safety and the livelihood of stray cattle that have been roaming the land since the port’s inception. Due to the high risk of the cattle being injured or even causing death due to accidents, New Mangaluru Port Trust has recently launched a project to shift the stray cattle from the port area to the cattle care center as per the Animal Protection Act 1960.
As it exists, stray cattle roam freely in the middle of the dock area where a large number of trucks enter the dock area in order to load and unload cargoes and conduct operations. Cattle pose a problem to smooth cargo operations and port operations cause impediments to their livelihood. With the onset of summer, the cattle, unable to find enough food within the docks, roam around NH 66 causing problems for the heavy traffic movement on the road. Even today one can observe the stray cattle, undeterred by speeding vehicles, either standing on the middle of the road or taking rest on the thoroughfares. New Mangaluru Port Trust has entrusted the work of shifting the cattle to Ramachandrapura Matha. The work is being administered by port officials along with the help of the Department of Animal Husbandry.
On Wednesday, April 7, the first batch of cattle were transported to Goshala in Hosanagara. The project was kickstarted by leaders from Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Dr. M. B. Puranik, and Shri, Sharan Pumpwell. The management of NMPT will assess the smooth transfer of these cattle and take further decisions on continuing the process.
