GURUGRAM: Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has written to his counterparts in neighbouring Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab, requesting them to launch a Haryana-like programme to check the menace of stray cattle in their respective states.
Sources said Khattar shot off the "demi-official letters" on Monday after it was found that a large number of stray animals entering the state from across the borders, undermining Haryana's efforts to free its stress of homeless cattle. Khattar urged the neighbouring states to cooperate to free the entire region from stray cattle.
"The programme was launched to tackle the problem by rehabilitating stray animals in gaushalas, nandishalas, gau-garhs and cattle ponds across the state. The government has, so far, shifted over 90% stray cattle to these centres and provided them with a better environment to live in. The move has not only made the roads animal-free and reduced the number of accidents but also prevented losses to farmers caused by homeless animals," an official quoted from the chief minister's letter.
The Haryana government has also decided to conduct a third-party survey in its districts, which have already been declared stray-cattle free. Moreover, the CM has directed all deputy commissioners and municipal commissioners to put in place concerted efforts to rescue all homeless animals across the state at the earliest.
Officials said Haryana was the first state in the country to have taken the initiative to free its towns and districts from stray cattle. "As per an estimate, there were about 1.5 lakh stray cattle in the state around a year ago. Of which, 1.4 lakh animals have been accommodated and rehabilitated," said another official.
Sources said Khattar shot off the "demi-official letters" on Monday after it was found that a large number of stray animals entering the state from across the borders, undermining Haryana's efforts to free its stress of homeless cattle. Khattar urged the neighbouring states to cooperate to free the entire region from stray cattle.
"The programme was launched to tackle the problem by rehabilitating stray animals in gaushalas, nandishalas, gau-garhs and cattle ponds across the state. The government has, so far, shifted over 90% stray cattle to these centres and provided them with a better environment to live in. The move has not only made the roads animal-free and reduced the number of accidents but also prevented losses to farmers caused by homeless animals," an official quoted from the chief minister's letter.
The Haryana government has also decided to conduct a third-party survey in its districts, which have already been declared stray-cattle free. Moreover, the CM has directed all deputy commissioners and municipal commissioners to put in place concerted efforts to rescue all homeless animals across the state at the earliest.
Officials said Haryana was the first state in the country to have taken the initiative to free its towns and districts from stray cattle. "As per an estimate, there were about 1.5 lakh stray cattle in the state around a year ago. Of which, 1.4 lakh animals have been accommodated and rehabilitated," said another official.
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