Sangrur, 25 September:- Punjab Gau Sewa Commission Vice Chairman Shri Keemti Bhagat said that the Punjab Government is continuously taking concrete steps for the care and protection of stray and destitute cattle and for strengthening the basic infrastructure of gaushalas. He said that the government, district administration and gaushala managements are working jointly to find a permanent solution to the problem of stray cattle roaming on roads. He said that in Sangrur district, 600 stray cattle have been shifted to gaushalas for care and protection during the last three months.
Shri Keemti Bhagat was speaking to the media after holding a meeting with the district administration and officials of concerned departments regarding the care of cattle in Sangrur today. He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is giving special priority to providing better facilities to gaushalas. He said that four months ago there were 190 cattle at Jhaneri Gaushala, which has now increased to 510. He said that 250 stray cattle from Sunam, Sangrur and Dhuri have been shifted to the gaushala.
He said that the government has waived electricity bills amounting to more than Rs 100 crore of 518 government and private gaushalas across the state. Thanking Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann for this initiative, he said that it has reduced the financial burden on gaushalas and they will be able to utilise their resources for better care of cattle.
Shri Bhagat said that the Punjab Government has provided cow lifters to around 500 gaushalas across the state at a cost of Rs 3 crore 6 lakh. He said that these cow lifters will help in safely transporting injured, sick or helpless cattle lying on roads to gaushalas and for taking them for treatment. During the meeting, he appreciated the work being done by private gaushalas for the care of cattle and said that private gaushalas should work on a larger scale, shoulder to shoulder with the government, for the care of stray cattle.
He further said that a notification has already been issued regarding providing Rs 61 per cattle per day for the care of every cattle kept in gaushalas and meetings with senior officials are continuing for its implementation. He said that the government is providing the necessary financial resources to further strengthen the care of cattle.
Giving information regarding Sangrur district, Shri Keemti Bhagat said that a separate shed for stray cattle is being constructed at a cost of Rs 65 lakh at the gaushala in village Jhaneri. He said that arrangements are also being made for the required funds to further strengthen the basic infrastructure of gaushalas.
He directed the officials to ensure that the entire amount of cow cess collected during the past period is spent only on the service, care and protection of cattle. He said that appropriate arrangements should be made to shift stray and destitute cattle roaming on roads to gaushalas at the earliest.
On this occasion, registration certificates were also distributed by the Punjab Gau Sewa Commission to 35 of the total 40 gaushalas in Sangrur district.
Shri Bhagat said that the services of GADVASU, Ludhiana and teams of expert veterinary doctors are being utilised for healthcare, vaccination and prevention of diseases among cattle kept in gaushalas. He appealed to administrative officials, gaushala managements, the media and the general public to extend joint cooperation for a permanent solution to the problem of stray and destitute cattle.
MLA Sangrur Narinder Kaur Bharaj, ADC Sukhchain Singh, SDM Bhawanigarh Manjit Kaur and officials of various departments were present at the meeting.
