Cattle released by the Semchen Tshethar Tshogpa are becoming a menace along the Gelegphu-Trongsa highway.
The three gewogs of Jigmechhoeling, Sershong and Gelephu in Sarpang are concerned since the cattle damage crops along the way and disrupt traffic. So the gewogs in the recent Dzongkhag Tshogdu appealed to relocate the animals to a different location.
During the meeting, the gups of the three gewogs alleged that the Tshethar Tshogpa released the cattle without their approval.
According to Gelegphu Gup, Ugyen Wangchuk, Semchen Tshethar Tshogpa works not to save the animals but to kill them.
He said, “when the animals enter farmlands, people beat them. So these animals have no shelter to stay in and can’t even stay in the insect-infested jungles.” The gup added that many cattle were killed by vehicles along the highway.
The Jigmechhoeling Gup, Kumar Gurung, also shared a similar concern. He said the tshogpa released the cattle in other people’s land below the gewog office.
“Some 50 animals were released above the Gelephu Tshachu area, and an additional 80 were released later. Since no one is there to take care of the animals, they have damaged orange trees and cardamom plants,” said the Jigmechhoeling gup.
The Sarpang Dzongkhag livestock officer informed the meeting that the Tshethar Tshogpa is not a registered with the Civil Society Organization. However, the tshogpa holds a license from the Commission for Religious Organization.
According to the livestock officer, Dorji Wangchuk, the Tshethar Tshogpa representative was called for questioning in the dzongkhag.
The livestock officer added that the tshogpa had not sought permission from the dzongkhag and gewog administrations. “He set free a total of 143 cattle, 22 hens and around 20 goats at once as per Sershong gup, and this was when the problem started,” added the livestock officer.
The DT directed the Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority to conduct a detailed investigation and report to the dzongkhag administration.
The DT chairperson, Nima Dorji Sherpa, said, “the investigation should be carried out as per the law, now that we know the tshogpa is not a registered CSO.” The chairperson also asked to check if places where animals are released, have the required amenities and cow herders as per the law.
“If it is not as per the law, we might have to cancel their works,” said the chairperson.
In July, most of the animals were relocated to different districts when people in the gewogs complained. However, some cattle released on tshether were left behind loitering along the Gelegphu-Trongsa highway.
Karma Wangdi, Sarpang
Edited by Sherub Dorji
