Dehradun: Chief secretary Radha Raturi, who chaired a meeting of the Uttarakhand Animal Welfare Board in the state secretariat on Tuesday, directed the urban development department to ensure fast pace of the construction of 36 ‘Gau Sadan” in the urban areas.
The department has already identified land for 36 ‘Gau Sadan” in the state’s 13 districts. The construction works are in progress at all the identified sites.
Municipal bodies to monitor the number of destitute bovine animals on roads
Even as the state gives a high honorarium of Rupees 80 per day to those who adopt destitute bovine animals, the common people continue to face the problems of the presence of destitute bovine animals on the roads. Chief secretary Raturi directed the Secretary, urban development department to ensure that the municipalities should review and monitor the number of destitute bovine animals present on the roads in urban areas every month. She also said that the Municipal bodies should make concrete arrangements to send destitute bovine animals to the “Gaushalas”.
Panchayati raj department is tasked to construct 26 Gau Sadan
The panchayati raj department has been asked to start the construction work of 26 Gausadans which are to be established in the rural areas of the state soon. The government has already released an amount of Rs 10 crore for this purpose to the department. The Panchayati raj department has already identified different sites in this regard.
Use of modern technologies to find a long term solution
Chief secretary Raturi underlined the need for the use of modern technology and IT to find a long-term solution to the problem of destitute bovine animals. She asked the officials to ensure mandatory geotagging of all bovine animals across the state. The app and dashboard, which will be launched soon, will contain the data such as the age, medical condition, and other information of each bovine animal. She told the officials that the “Gausevak Yojana” is important for the proper care of destitute bovine animals. She gave emphasis on its maximum expansion.
Regular inspection of cow shelter
Besides giving instructions for continuous monitoring of operation and maintenance of the under-construction and the operational cow shelters, chief secretary Raturi asked the officials to make adequate arrangements of fodder, straw, light, medical care, security, and medicines for the cattle in the cow shelters. She has also instructed for regular inspection of the cow shelters.
As per the information available with the Uttarakhand Animal Welfare Board, at present the number of destitute bovine animals in the state is 20887.
