Stray cattle issue to be solved in 4 months: Panel chief

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 10

Chairman of the Punjab State Gau Sewa Commission Keemti Bhagat said today that with the support and cooperation of the state government, the problem of 1.10 lakh stray cattle would be solved within four months.

He said the stray cattle would be off road as besides construction of cattle ponds (gaushalas) in all districts of the state, concerted efforts were afoot to tackle the menace, which had taken around 290 lives during the previous year.

Bhagat said he had raised the issue with Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, who had assured support to the commission over the issue.

He said already around Rs 2 crore collected from the gau sewa cess had been transferred by Powercom to the civic bodies of Jalandhar, Baghapurana, Banur, Bathinda, Fatehgarh Churian and Hoshiarpur for the well-being of the cattle.

Bhagat said people from across the state were unanimous on the issue of wiping out the menace from the state, which was posing a serious threat to lives and property of people.

He asked officers to play a pivotal role for solving the problem of stray cattle in the state. He also asked officers of the Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar, to take strict action against illegally operating dairies within the municipal limits of the city.