On the occasion of World Environment Day, Delhi’s Minister of Development and Tourism Kapil Mishra visited Shri Krishna gaushala, Bawana and inspected the arrangements for care, cleanliness, nutrition and rehabilitation of cattle.
This gaushala is one of the largest in the Delhi-NCR region. He also participated in a tree plantation drive, spreading the message of environmental conservation.
Addressing the gathering on World Environment Day, the minister said “Our cattle and Gaumatas are the backbone of environmental conservation. Gaushalas are not just centers for animal care but also symbols of our cultural and environmental heritage.
The Delhi Government is committed to the protection of cattle and the development of gaushalas. To this end, we have decided to integrate Delhi’s gaushalas into the tourism map to promote religious tourism.”
He added the neglect faced by Gaumatas during the previous Government’s tenure has caused immense pain to people and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
To address this, a Gau Seva Commission will soon be established to ensure proper care, cleanliness, nutrition and rehabilitation of stray cattle, Mishra said.
During the event, the Minister informed the gaushala caretakers that the Delhi Government has allocated a significant budget in the 2025-26 financial year to modernise gaushalas. To clear pending dues, the Government has released an initial tranche of `10 crore, with an additional `11.14 crore to follow as the next installment.
All pending bills up to March 2025 will also be settled soon. The Delhi Government will coordinate with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to ensure no lapses occur in gaushala-related matters. It is noteworthy that the Delhi Government is taking consistent steps to protect and promote gaushalas and their caretakers.
These efforts include extending the lease period for gaushala land, increasing financial assistance for cattle feed by `20 per cow and considering permissions for gaushala operators to sell dairy products such as milk, ghee and paneer to make gaushalas self-sustainable.