SHILLONG: Meghalaya Government is working on a regulation which, it thinks, would stop the cattle smuggling to neighbouring Bangladesh from the state.
Talking to media persons here, Deputy Chief Minister in charge, Veterinary department, Prestone Tynsong said that department had a very limited role on the issue of alleged illegal smuggling of cattle to Bangladesh, adding the role of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department is to issue health certificate and challan to specify if the cattle is meant for farming or slaughtering.
Stating that the Khasi-Jaintia Butchers Welfare Association and the Syiem of Mylliem have met him to discuss on the matter, he informed that there is a provision in the Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals Act where the department can issue challan to keep a tab on the cattle which are being brought into the State.
“By issuing challan, the people who bought the cattle from the market would have to indicate if these cattle are for farming or slaughtering besides mentioning the destination where they plan to take the cattle,” Tynsong said while adding that the department is working on the regulation for identifying people who are bringing cow or cattle from outside.
Once the regulation is in place, the department also need to notify the place from where the cattle have come and the cattle would be checked by veterinary doctors and officers of the department after which the health certificate and challan would be issued.
Admitting that cattle are being sold in an open market and anybody is free to buy cattle from the market at Khanapara, he added that certificate has to be issued by the Veterinary Department.
“Once the notification comes out, it will also be the duty of the police to check and find out on the last destination of the cattle. Destination has to be mentioned by the people who are bringing the cattle from outside and hopefully by this initiative, we will be able to control the illegal smuggling of cattle outside the country,” Tynsong said.
It was also informed that the Meghalaya Government is also working out to acquire a space at Byrnihat for opening the cattle market which will cover the entire stretch of Guwahati-Shillong national highway road