When the govt, exporters chose to play the goat

Nagpur: What does a reporter do when a story unexpectedly turns on its head and becomes difficult to pursue further? This diarist came across such a situation when the state government suddenly called off the export of livestock, mainly goat and sheep, from Nagpur airport on June 29 at the behest of Central government.
The development took everyone by surprise. Even Dr Vikas Mahatme, senior ophthalmologist and Member of Parliament who was coordinating the project, was taken aback. It was said that the Union government had decided to give a hearing to members of the Jain community who were against the export and killing of animals. No one could digest the fact that government had given up as it was a very small and local protest.

Efforts to contact the ministers at Centre completely failed. Next question was what would happen to the goats which were being brought from Rajasthan for export. Two exporters who were very angry with the decision told TOI that they will incur huge loss and were sending the animals back. The plane that was to carry the livestock was cancelled. Unaware of the business aspects of the project, the diarist tried to dig in further as it appeared to be the only angle left with the story.

But before the story’s format could be finalized, the exporters and traders called TOI saying that they were adequately compensated for the loss and their earlier statements may not be quoted. They, however, refused to reveal the compensation amount. It’s learnt, they were only promised some sum and were forced to tell this to media under political pressure.

As the day progressed, the story turned political. But it was next to impossible to get quotes on the subject as everyone was tight-lipped. But the haste with which the export was put off at the last minute, the issue kept lingering in the diarist’s mind.

The project was to create market for the Vidarbha livestock as Dr Mahatme, a Dhangar (shepherd community) leader was heading it. But new facts came to fore. Both Centre and state had taken up the project half-heartedly. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union minister Nitin Gadkari, who were earlier backing the project, suddenly went quiet.

Otherwise also the project lacked ground work as the livestock for even the first export was brought from Rajasthan.

It appeared as if the leaders at the Centre never wanted the project and used the Jain opposition as a cover to stop it. The fate of the project is still uncertain.

(When it comes to health and agriculture stories, Snehlata Shrivastav knows the diagnosis and what’s cropping up)