Punjab Government on Saturday decided in principle to provide free power supply to all the 472 Gaushalas (cowsheds) in the State.
The decision, which could be implemented soon, was taken after Punjab BJP President Kamal Sharma met chief minister Parkash Singh Badal with the request.
Terming the decision as historic, Sharma said that now all the 472 Gaushalas in the state would have access to free power. He said the decision of free power would provide respite to those managing the Gaushalas, in wake of their poor economic condition.
In a statement issued here, Sharma said he along with Tikshan Sud, Advisor to Punjab CM; Keemti Bhagat, Chairman Punjab Gau Sewa Aayog and Subhash Sharma, state secretary BJP, held a meeting with the CM.
In the meeting, Sharma expressed his concern over the delay in announcement of free power to the Gaushalas. Giving details of the meeting, Sharma said the chief minister took a prompt action and immediately issued instructions to the Punjab State Power Corporation limited (PSPCl) CMD K.D.Chaudhri that all the 472 Gaushalas in Punjab be provided free power.
Sharma also took up the matter of land of Gauchar, Gau Charan and Gaushalas being illegally occupied by the land mafia and urged the CM to issue necessary instructions in this regard. Taking note of the matter, Badal constituted a committee with specific directions for getting the land of Gauchar, Gau Charan and Gaushalas vacated from illegal occupants.
Sud requested Badal that something must be done for the welfare of the cow's without shelter. On this, the Chief Minister said that for proper care of the cow, Gaushalas are being made in all the districts of the Punjab.
Keemti Bhagat, Chairman Punjab Gau Sewa Aayog, requested the CM that Rashtriya Shaheedi Gau Samarak should be built in village Joga of Mansa district. He also said that the economic condition of the Gaushalas in the state is very bad and every possible help should be extended.