Gaushalas cash-strapped as fodder price increases

Sanjay Bumbroo

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Tribune News Service

Mohali, April 10

The managements of gaushalas in Mohali district are dealing with cash crunch for purchasing fodder as donations have dropped amid the lockdown.

The gaushalas are dependent on devotees’ help for feeding their cattle. Due to the lockdown, devotees are unable to visit the gaushalas.

Even though the district administration gives Rs 13 per cow per day to the gaushalas, this is insufficient as the rates for fodder have increased by almost 40 per cent.

Pardeep Kumar, head of the gaushala in Phase I that is being run by the Gauri Shankar Sewa Dal, said there was a huge shortage of fodder at his gaushala.

“We are left with fodder only for two to three days. The gaushala has around 600 cows,” he said.

He said earlier, they used to buy fodder at Rs 160 to Rs 170 per quintal, but the same was now available at Rs 250 per quintal.

He said that the reason for the shortage of fodder was that the farmers were unable to visit fields due to the lockdown.

He said: “Now that the district administration has relaxed the norms for farmer, I hope the fodder prices gets reduced.”

Mohali Municipal Commissioner Kamal Kumar Garg said that the gaushalas were being run by charitable organisations on a contract basis.

He said there was no shortage of fodder and they were supplying 40 quintals of fodder daily to each gaushala.