Maharashtra invokes MCOCA against cow smuggling, illegal cattle trade for first time; CM Fadnavis warns of strict action
Mumbai, May 23
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the state government has invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act for the first time against offences related to cow smuggling, illegal cattle transportation and illegal slaughterhouses, asserting that the move would withstand legal scrutiny.
Speaking on the state government's action against illegal cattle trade and slaughterhouses, Fadnavis said, "For the first time, we have implemented the MCOCA law, and I believe it will be completely justified in court. If anyone does this, MCOCA will be invoked against them."
On weather preparedness and the impact of El Nino, Fadnavis said the state government had put in place a comprehensive plan to deal with possible extreme weather conditions, including heavy rainfall.
"We have prepared a comprehensive plan for El Nino. There may be heavy rainfall in some places. We have prepared a plan for the precautions that should be taken in that regard," he said.
Earlier, Fadnavis said on Thursday that the possible impact of El Nino remains one of the biggest concerns for Maharashtra during the upcoming kharif season, with the state preparing measures to tackle lower rainfall.
"El Nino is the biggest challenge for the kharif season in the state this year. We are focusing on planning to mitigate the situation," he said.
The Chief Minister said rainfall this year is expected to remain below normal, and the government has accelerated water conservation-related works under the Jalyukt Shivar programme.
He added that district administrations across Maharashtra have been prepared to deal with the possible effects of El Nino and appealed for efficient water usage during the cropping season.
"Every district has been equipped to deal with the El Nino effect. We appeal to the optimum use of water to improve the crop cycle this year," he said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good move but I hope they also focus on small farmers who depend on cattle for livelihood. Not everything is organised crime, some people are just trying to survive. Need to have a balanced approach that doesn't harass the poor.
This is exactly what Maharashtra needed! Illegal cattle trade is big business with mafia links. MCOCA gives law enforcement real teeth to break these networks. And simultaneously preparing for El Nino shows good governance. Well done CM! 🇮🇳
Mixed feelings on this one. On one hand, tackling criminal networks is important. But MCOCA is a very harsh law. Hope the courts ensure it's not misused against ordinary citizens going about their legitimate business. The El Nino planning is appreciated though - our farmers need all the support they can get.
Interesting approach. I work in Mumbai and have seen how cow smuggling operates like a well-oiled syndicate. MCOCA might be heavy-handed but sometimes you need strong laws to break entrenched systems. Hope the implementation is fair and transparent.
Great to see decisive action! But also important to note that the government is thinking about monsoon and El Nino simultaneously. This shows they're not just focused on one thing. Hope Jalyukt Shivar and water conservation efforts pay off this kharif season. 👍
K We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.