Cow sanctuaries to be set up in Haryana

Chandigarh: The Haryana government has decided to set up 'gau abhyaranyas' (cow sanctuaries) for the conservation of stray cows in the state.

These will be set up at strategic locations in the state, including in Sirsa and Bhiwani districts, Haryana Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Om Prakash Dhankar said in a statement issued here.

There are about three lakhs cows in the state, including 1.5 lakh stray cows, he said.

To strengthen and effectively implement complete ban on cow slaughter, a new legislation has been drafted which would be tabled in the budget session of the state Assembly beginning next month, Dhankar said.

Once the legislation is passed, the state government would effectively implement the Gau Samvardhan Act all over the state, he said.

The minister said that the state government would also provide subsidy on purchase of buffaloes and bullock-carts.

Subsidy to the tune of 50 per cent would be given to the farmers for setting up dairy units for indigenous cows and mini-dairy units, he said.

"A sum of Rs 77.9 crore Gausamvardhan project has been approved by the central government under the National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development for integrated development of indigenous cattle, including Hariana, Sahiwal and Gir, in the state.

"The scheme would be implemented in five years and a provision of over Rs 25 crore has been made for the first year," he said.

Dhankar said for further encouraging farmers to rear good quality indigenous cattle breeds of high milk yield, the state government has decided to start performance recording for these breeds and provide cash incentives ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 on the basis of milk yield.

Dhankar said that subsidy of 50 per cent would be provided for setting up dairy, piggery, sheep and goat units by Scheduled Caste families.