SHILLONG:
The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) has lodged a complaint with the Principal Secretary to Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department alleging that people posing as “dalals” are smuggling cattle and buffaloes to Bangladesh by misusing the official challans provided by the department which is applicable only in Meghalaya.
In the letter, the organisation wrote to the officer on unabated illegal smuggling of bovines across the state towards Bangladesh.
The organisation has expressed concerns on the presence of some agents (dalals) who collect money from trucks along the highway even after producing valid challans issued by the Veterinary department for transportation of bovines within the state.
On the other hand, the organisation has also offered to assist the department on a payment basis, to check the rampant smuggling of bovines all over the state if the department is facing shortage of enforcement staff.
The HITO has also requested the department to move the state government for an official resolution in the Meghalaya Assembly to urge the Centre to include an official permit to export bovines from Meghalaya (a beef-eating state) to neighbouring Bangladesh.
“It is also noted that many states in the mainland spend thousands of crores of rupees on the feeding and maintenance of old/stray cows in gaushalas. Meghalaya could request other states to direct such cattle/buffaloes to Meghalaya which can be used to generate livelihoods for the public and revenue for both the state and Centre,” the organisation stated.
