Gaushala with 900 cows plunges into darkness
Our Correspondent
Khanna, November 25
The gaushala in Samrala, located on the Khanna road, and having around 900 cows, plunged into darkness as its power connection was disconnected on Friday due to the pending bill.
Workers at the gaushala were forced to perform their duties and fend cows in pitch dark as there was no power. As per information, the gaushala authorities have to pay a bill of Rs 3.10 lakh to Powercom, which has been pending from past few years.
The gaushala has the capacity to accommodate 300 cows, but at present there are 900 cattle head on its premises. The facility is functioning without any government aid or grant. According to sources the power connections of gaushalas in Ludhiana and Batala were also disconnected due to non-payment of bills.
While confirming disconnection of power supply, the Punjab Gau Sewa Commission chairman, Kimti Bhagat, said, “There are reports of power supply being disconnected to some other gaushalas. It has caused a big problem in running these places. Despite collecting gau cess all over the state the government has failed to clear power bills of gaushalas.”
Bhola Nath Jindal, a worker of Samrala gaushala, said, “This gaushala is functioning since 1980 with the help of donations from area residents, but the disconnection of power supply has created a big problem in running the facility. We are trying to fend cows by using other means as machines, run on power, are not working.”
When contacted, the Samrala SDM, Amit Bamby, said he had asked the Ghulal Powercom XEN to restore the gaushala connection without any delay. He said, “I have called a meeting of the XEN, other powercom officials and gaushala management on Monday to solve this issue and to clear the outstanding bill amount.”
When contacted, the Ghula PowerCom XEN, Sumer Singhm, said, “The power bill of Rs 2.5 lakh stands against gaushala. I have asked officials concerned of my department to restore the power.”
He clarified that the facility of free power supply to gaushalas had been withdrawn. Managements of gaushals must pay outstanding power bills, he added.
No benefit of collecting cow cess
According to information, gau cess of two paise per unit is collected from power consumers in Punjab. So far, Rs 9 crore has been collected under this head while the total outstanding power bill of 472 gaushalas in the state is said to be Rs 5.32 crore.
