Up to 75 kg plastic found in gut, gaushala flags waste dumping crisis
Shahin Bepari Lambe
Panaji: Open waste dumping is killing cattle in the state with data from surgeries conducted at the Shikeri gaushala in Mayem showing that 35 kg, 55 kg and 62 kg of plastic were removed from the stomachs of cattle in separate cases, with the highest recorded being 75 kg from a single animal. The discarding of the sharp objects along with food waste exposes the animals to further risk of serous internal injuries.
“Stray cattle in Goa are dying largely due to the consumption of plastic waste dumped in the open,” said Kamalakanth Tari, president of the gaushala, adding that despite medical intervention, some animals do not survive due to prolonged ingestion of plastic and the resulting internal damage.
The gaushala handles cases of injured and stray cattle from across Goa and Tari said their findings are based on medical evidence from procedures carried out on injured and stray cattle brought to the facility.
“Cattle consume plastic bags containing kitchen waste discarded along roadsides. These bags often include food scraps along with hazardous materials, which cause internal injuries and lead to serious health complications,” said Tari.
Tari said the risk is compounded by sharp objects mixed with waste. “In one surgery, the operating doctor sustained hand injuries due to nails, screws, wires and broken glass found inside the animal’s stomach,” he said.
He said the issue is directly linked to improper waste disposal and lack of segregation at the household level. Tari called on panchayats to create awareness and ensure that garbage is not dumped in plastic bags in open areas accessible to cattle.
On waste management at the facility, Tari said deceased animals are buried in two-metre-deep pits designed to prevent groundwater contamination, and wastewater from cattle sheds is treated through septic and filtration systems.
The gaushala maintains records of each animal.
