Residents of several villages have sought the intervention of MLA Krishnendu Paul in connection with the pitiable condition of the Bazaricherra-Kalacherra veterinary centre under Patharkandi Assembly constituency in Assam’s Karimganj district, which has been lying non-functional for the past many months.

The centre falls under Bazaricherra gaon panchayat in Lowairpua block, around 108km from here.

The residents of a large number of villages, including Bazaricherra, Kalacherra, Chagolmua, Borobajari, Purbobajari, Nabinnagar and Shantinagar, among others, are dependent on the centre.

According to local residents, the centre is the sole option for treatment of animals for the people of numerous villages, especially farmers.

The centre, which was somehow running around two to three years ago, has become totally non-functional for the past year. This has resulted in immense trouble for people, who are unable to get the treatment/check-up of their animals (mostly cattle) done, the residents said.

A group of residents alleged though the matter was brought to the notice of the authorities concerned a number of times in the past, no step was taken. “There is no veterinary doctor in the centre for years. As a result, people are not getting any facilities from it,” they rued.

Animals (mostly cattle) of many people have died because of lack of treatment in the past year.

The nearest veterinary centre is at Lowairpua, around 8km from this centre.

However, the area is inhabited mostly by poor people, for whom it is tough to take their animals to that centre for treatment, the residents said.

They mentioned that the centre, due to non maintenance, has turned into a “decrepit structure” engulfed by foliage all around. The residents sought the intervention of the MLA in the matter.

Paul said he would speak with the authorities concerned and that necessary measures would be taken soon.