Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal on Friday announced to effect necessary amendments to the Punjab Religious Premises Eviction Act to free gauchar (pasture) land from illegal occupation.
This decision was taken by Badal during a meeting with the delegation of Gau Sewa Mission led by ex-president Gau Sewa Board Bhagat Kimti lal here.The Chief Minister also decided not to charge any VAT on building material used by registered gaushalas for the construction purposes and all the gaushalas would be provided with free electricity. Badal also agreed to the proposal of the Gau Sewa Mission to add clause 15 to the provision of Gau Sewa Commission so that Gauchar land could be given to the commission for its management.
The Chief Minister also asked various Gaushalas Management committees to construct gaushalas for the promotion of cow breeding of indigenous breeds such as Ongole, Rathi, Sahiwal, Tharparkar and Vachur etc.As the mark of reverence towards cows and in view the religious sentiments all the people especially the Hindu community, the State Government has already enacted Punjab Prohibition of slaughter of cows Amendment Act, in which the punishment has been raised to 10 years of imprisonment or Rs10,000 penalty or both for cow slaughter.