Himachal Pradesh to constitute board to deal with stray cattle SHIMLA: Facing a daunting task of making state roads free of stray cattle by December 31, Himachal Pradesh government has now decided to constitute a Gauvansh Samvhardan Board for the protection of cows and other stray cattle, besides to provide them shelter. State high court recently had directed all local bodies to construct in their respective jurisdiction gaushalas or shelters for housing cows and stray cattle within a period of six months. Chief minister Virbhadra Singh while interacting with media persons in Shimla on Friday said that the government has decided to have a Gauvansh Samvhardan Board. He said that it was unfortunate that people abandon cattle on the roads, where they are a cause of mishaps. He said that the government would also involve private parties and NGOs in this noble cause. While appealing to people not to abandon their cattle, Virbhadra Singh said that government would open shelter homes for such stray cattle all over the state in a phased manner so that they could be properly fed. I dont want to see a single cow or similar stray cattle on the roads, he said. The chief minister said that for stray dogs in Shimla town, government would open dog homes in the suburbs of the town. He said that several cases of dog bites had been reported in the town and the pedestrians were the most affected. He said that government would ensure that stray dogs are caught and kept in shelter homes. He said that services of veterinary doctor would also be provided and proper immunization of dogs would be done. Toughening its stand on stray cattle problem, Himachal Pradesh high court in its recent order had made it clear that abandoning of animals by owners, including cows and buffaloes would also amount to cruelty. The court has directed that all cattle found within the limits of Shimla municipal corporation, municipal councils, nagar panchayats and panchayats should have a tag number indicative of the owner to whom the animal belongs in order to trace the owner. A division bench of Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Sureshwar Thakur in the order had said that the principal secretary to the state government should issue necessary instructions towards the implementation of the orders and would be personally liable for this. The court also directed the state government to make the citizen throughout the state aware of animal rights and their welfare by issuing public notices. -TNN
Posted on: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 07:15:43 +0000