Rajasthan: Cow safari project hits roadblock in absence of will

JAIPUR: The cow safari project at Hingonia Gaushala, which hogged limelight across the country after it was announced in 2018, has been shelved.
As the project did not appeal the ruling party at Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC), the private foundation that proposed the project took a backseat.
Sources said the project did not get support after the regime was changed. As per the proposal, visitors could have watched cows graze in open land, feed, clean, milk and massage them while temporarily residing at the state-run cow rehabilitation centre.
The safari also included climb-up machan huts on trees where visitors could stay. The safari also proposed travel on bullock carts through muddy terrains and through forest areas housing the Hingonia Gaushala. “Tourism development was part of our memorandum of understanding with the state government. Development of huts on trees and a wall around the forest area. However, construction was stopped after receiving no support,” said a source.
Moreover, visitors could have seen 30 breeds of desi cows such as Tharparkar, Rendi, Gir, Kankrej, Red Sindhi, Rathi, etc. It was proposed as an educational safari for visitors who could have informed about native cow breeds and their characteristics. Sources said after a BJP rebel councillor won a mayor seat with Congress support, the project hit the roadblock.
The gaushala had hit headlines in 2016 after thousands of cows died. Due to mismanagement by government authorities, it was handed over to an NGO, which is now developing it as a breeding centre for desi cows. At least 30 bulls and 20 cows of Tharparkar breed have been brought to the gaushala from Bikaner. “After the change in regime, an attempt was made to make system more transparent and increase the involvement of JMC,” sources said.