SHILLONG:
The Animal Husbandry & Veterinary department is setting up check posts at various entry/exit points of the state to check vehicles carrying cattle and verify transit permits in order to prevent unauthorised transportation of cattle as well as to detect its smuggling.
Animal Husbandry & Veterinary minister Sanbor Shullai told the assembly on Monday that the check posts will be set up at Byrnihat, Jirang, Umkiang, Bajengdoba, Tikrikila, Aradong and Pynursla.
He was replying to a short duration discussion moved by AITC legislator from Umroi George B Lyngdoh.
Lyngdoh, while expressing concern over rampant cattle smuggling, accused the state government of helping the BJP to achieve its hidden agenda to stop eating of beef in the state.
He alleged that the cattle crisis in the state has been purposely created perhaps to fulfill a political agenda of both the BJP government at the Centre and the state.
“As we see, they are now successful in ensuring that Meghalaya does not get access to beef. The inaction of the state government proves beyond doubt that it is ensuring that the BJP succeeds in its plans,” he said.
The discussion ensued on a report alleging that the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary department has no knowledge about the destination of the cattle whereas it has issued over 290 challan to buy cattle from Assam.
Lyngdoh further alleged that the state government was successful in ensuring that the cattle does not reach the state.
“The state government has been ensuring that whatever cattle that reaches the state, that also is being smuggled and whatever cattle reaches the open market for consumption, the prices are so high now that people cannot buy beef anymore because it is so costly,” he said.
“Therefore I can only congratulate the government for hoodwinking the people without a law being put in place; it has been successful in ensuring that the hidden agenda of stopping people from eating beef is successful,” the MLA added.
The AITC legislator further stated that not only is cattle smuggling becoming a livelihood for many but now the danger is that raw meat is also being smuggled as beef.
According to him, the prevailing situation has affected the local butchers to a great extent.
Shullai said that a series of meetings were held with associations, societies, cattle traders of the state to create awareness on legal provisions related to cattle transportation and requirement to obtain transit permits from the department.
It was also informed to the traders to bring to the notice of the department if they face any hurdle in transportation of cattle through Assam.
“However, the department has not received any complaint from those who obtained permits regarding hurdles faced by them while transporting cattle through Assam,” he said.
Stating that the state government has taken up several measures to facilitate hassle-free transportation of cattle from other states through Assam and also to make the state self-sufficient, Shullai said that the department will constantly monitor the issue and necessary interventions will be made if genuine cattle traders face any hurdle in transportation of cattle to Meghalaya.
It may be noted that the Assam government had enacted the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021.
On the several interventions of the government to make the state self-sufficient in beef production, the minister said that the department has introduced 6 Ongole bulls on experimental basis to study the breed’s suitability to the state’s weather conditions.
These Ongole bulls are housed at ICDP, Upper Shillong and they are well adapted to the local conditions.
“With this success, we have procured 2,000 Ongole bull semen straws from Andhra Pradesh for artificial insemination of local cattle population to increase their productivity and population,” he said adding these measures would boost beef production.