PRAYAGRAJ: At a time when the state government has taken several initiatives to improve the facilities at the cowsheds, some of the mine lease holders of Prayagraj have come forward to share the responsibility along with the government.
Following the appeal of the district administration, few of the mining lease holders in the district have adopted 42 government-run cow shelters and begun looking after around 8,000 stray cows that are living in them. These mining lease holders have constructed four types of sheds in each of these 42 adopted cow shelters. This includes one big shed for the cows, another smaller one for the sick cows and a third one for calves and the fourth one for the staff attending to them and keeping the fodder.
Commenting on the issue, district magistrate, Prayagraj Sanjay Kumar Khatri said, “Those who have adopted these cow shelters are doing very noble work. Because of their efforts, the work for making the sheds in most of the adopted cow shelters is either complete or near completion. Based on the results, we are also holding talks with others, including NGOs to adopt other cow shelters and lend a hand in this noble work that is a priority for the state government.”
According to chief veterinary officer (CVO), Prayagraj, Dr RP Rai, a total of 18,800 cows are living in these 179 ‘Gaushalas’ while the 42 adopted temporary cow shelters as part of the district administration’s efforts house around 8,000 rescued cows.
A mining lease holder who has adopted a cow shelter at Shankargarh shared that among the works done include levelling the ground, construction of a boundary wall to protect the cows from wild animals, construction of proper drains and sheds. “Initially, we were uncertain as we lacked the experience to look after the cows,” he added.
