In an apparent attempt to cash in on the “holy cow” sentiments of a section of voters, the Punjab Government has decided to act tough against those abandoning their cattle.
In contrast, the State Government claimed that the move was aimed at controlling the stray cattle menace posing a serious threat to the human lives and causing major damage to crops in the State.
“Stray cattle is a big problem and the Government is making efforts to contain it. The process of setting up gaushalas or cattle ponds in all 22 districts is on and will be completed soon…Besides, we are also mulling over stringent action against those who abandon their cattle,” a senior Punjab Government official told The Pioneer.
The official said that the people usually get rid of the cattle when they fail to deliver them or the farmers don’t get any more benefit from them like they fail to yield milk, and this was the main reason for the ever-increasing menace.
“Now, the Government has decided that such people
would be taken to task,” the official added.
The issue of stray cattle menace was debated many a times as it not only results in road accidents, sometimes fatal, but also damages the standing crops.
In all, 472 cow shelters, including private, are working in the State housing more than 2.50 lakh cows. It is believed that more than one lakh cows are still straying across the State.
Punjab Government, in its 2015 budget, had announced to set up gaushalas in every district of the State to tackle the problem of stray animals. With this, setting up of ‘District Animal Welfare Society’, under the chairmanship of the
Deputy Commissioner, in every district was also announced to establish the infrastructure for gaushalas.
However, the Government is yet to construct the gaushalas for the completion of which Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had, only recently, approved release of Rs 22 crore.
Badal has also asked Punjab Gau Sewa Commission chairman Keemti Bhagat to rope in the NGOs, voluntary and other religious organisations to run these cattle ponds for which the State Government would also bear five per cent of total expenditure incurred on the maintenance of these cattle ponds including the cost of feeding.
After completion of these ponds, nearly 2000-2500 stray cattle would be housed in every cattle pond.
He said, “Along with the construction of the governmental cattle ponds, the cess will be used for the welfare of cows and the Government will also give 4-5 lakh to each non-Government cowshed across the Punjab.”
The State Government has also made levy of cow cess mandatory as per the Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act. The cow cess was levied on items including liquor, fuel, vehicles, besides one paisa per unit of the electricity consumed.