No funds for gaushala upkeep, Punjab Govt ropes in Delhi-based firm

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 7

The government-run gaushalas — once an ambitious project to control the stray cattle building on huge public cost and panchayat land — will be handed over to private players now.

Can use 10% milch cattle for revenue

• Initially three gaushalas — those in Patiala, Gurdaspur and SAS Nagar — will be handed over to a Delhi-based company for five years. The agreement will be extendable up to 25 yrs
• The company will be bound to keep at least 5,000 stray cattle in each gaushala and they will spend Rs27 crore on each gaushala’s modernisation
• It has been allowed to keep 10% milch cattle for revenue purposes. Besides, it can make and sell products made from milk, cow dung, bio fertilisers, solar power, etc

Around five years ago, the previous SAD-BJP government had opened 22 gaushalas, one in each district, by acquiring panchayat land. But due to shortage of funds to arrange manpower and provide fodder to the cattle, the government was unable to run those properly.

According to sources, the government has now decided to hand over these gaushalas to a Delhi-based private company, which is already managing gaushalas on similar pattern in Rajasthan.

As per the proposed agreement, initially three gaushalas — those in Patiala, Gurdaspur and SAS Nagar districts — will be handed over to the company for five years. The agreement will be extendable up to 25 years.

The company will be bound to keep at least 5,000 stray cattle in each gaushala and they will spend Rs 27 crore on each gaushala’s modernisation.

Besides keeping at least 5,000 stray cattle, the company has been allowed to keep 10 per cent milch cattle for revenue purposes. Besides, the private company can make and sell milk products, products made from cow dung, bio fertilisers, solar power, building herbal parks, etc.

A government committee comprising the Deputy Commissioner and the Deputy Director (Animal Husbandry) of the district concerned will be entitled to inspect the functioning of the gaushala.

All attempts to contact Animal Husbandry Director Dr HS Kahlon remained futile as he refused to comment on the issue.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.