With the twin aim of tackling the cattle menace and providing shelter to the homeless livestock, the Punjab Government is in the process of setting up 22 gaushalas across the State. For the purpose, the State Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal on Monday asked the officers concerned to prepare the display model of gaushala, incorporating all essential inputs, by April 16.
The directions were issued in the high level meeting of Chief Secretary with the senior officers of Animal Husbandry, Rural Development and Panchayats Department, Chief Architect, Taxation and others to chalk out a time bound action plan in this regard. During the meeting, the officers presented various models of the proposed gaushalas showcasing the layout and other basic amenities.
It was decided by the experts that the ambience of the proposed Gaushalas must be closer to the natural habitat full of greenery and water availability. It was informed that a district level gaushala, to be set up over an estimated area ideally ranging up to 25 acres, would have the capacity to accommodate around 2,000 cows. Spokesperson said that panchayat lands have been identified in 17 districts and the task in remaining districts is nearing completion.
“Each gaushala will have a fencing, fodder store and suitable arrangement of water and power. It will have a couple of tube-wells and natural ponds…Suitable arrangement will be made for the regular upkeep of these gaushalas along with daily supply of fodder for the cattle,” he said. Apart from the dedicated manpower in each gaushala, the veterinary staff, pharmacist would also be stationed in each gaushala to cure the ailing animals, he said.
Kaushal stressed that there should be a free flow for the fodder for the cattle into the Gaushalas. Already, the State Government has set up district-level Cattle Welfare Societies in every district under the chairmanship of concerned Deputy Commissioner, with ADC Development, Senior Superintendent of Police, District Development and Panchayat Officer, Deputy Director Animal Husbandry, Deputy Director Dairy Development, District Forest Officer, concerned SDMs etc as its members.
As the Punjab Government will heavily rely upon charitable institutions and philanthropists, it will also generate additional resources for the noble cause of welfare of cows, especially in their uneconomic and unproductive phase when they are abandoned and stray on the roads endangering their own lives and the lives of human beings by causing traffic mishaps.