Cabinet committee constituted to deal with stray cattle menace

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 16

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday formed a five-member Cabinet Sub-Committee to check the growing menace of stray cattle in the state. He also announced Rs 10 lakh each to the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) for opening additional gaushalas in their respective districts to address the problem.

The committee, headed by Animal Husbandry Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, has PWD Minister Vijay Inder Singla, Local Government Minister Brahm Mohindra, Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu and Industries Minister Sunder Sham Arora as members. It has been mandated to suggest ways to tackle the problem of stray cattle, to save precious human lives due to fatal accidents caused by the animals.

Reviewing the status of gaushalas in all districts, the CM asked the DCs to open one more gaushala in their respective districts with the help of NGOs, social and religious organisations. He also directed all DCs to make elaborate arrangements, in collaboration with the Rural Development and Panchayats, Local Government and Animal Husbandry departments, to house the stray cattle in these cattle pounds.

There are currently early 2.5 lakh stray animals in the state and the committee would explore ways to eradicate the menace, besides regularly monitoring the progress of implementation and achievement of the specific targets under the action plan. The sub-committee would also further mandate the districts administration to undertake the task to finalise the action plan for checking the menace in a result-oriented manner.