No funds, free power to private gaushalas may go

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 26

In a snub to the Punjab Gau Sewa Commission, the state Finance Department says it has no funds to provide free power to private gaushalas. Since April, the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission has not been charging 366 gaushalas for its services.

The department had last week sent a communication to the Animal Husbandry Department, saying it would have to foot a bill of Rs 4.57 crore annually on providing power to the gaushalas. Asking the latter to collect funds from its own resources, it suggested a ‘cattle fare fund’. But that fund is under the Rural Development Department.

The PSPCL had begun supplying free power to the private gaushalas, even though there was no government notification. The  RSS and the BJP had been pushing for free power to all 472 gaushalas in Punjab. Keemti Bhagat, Commission chief, was not available for comment.

Govt assurance to soap manufacturers 

The state government on Tuesday assured the soap manufacturers of support to ensure a safe business environment. The opposition by cow vigilante groups to the use of tallow in making soap was taken up at a meeting between the manufacturers and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal. Soap Manufacturers and Traders Society chief Yash Bhandari said Sukhbir directed the DGP and the Animal Husbandry Department to take requisite steps.