JAIPUR: The state government had earned Rs 2,176 crore from cow cess but only Rs 5.20 crore was spent in three years. The government claimed that the money remained unused as it received no proposals.
The government was put on the backfoot in the assembly on Thursday over the non-utilisation of the amount collected under cow cess. The matter was raised by Independent MLA Sanyam Lodha during Question Hour.
Responding on behalf of chief minister Ashok Gehlot, who holds the finance department, Dhariwal said the government received Rs 970.94 crore from surcharge on stamp duty from 2019-20 to 2021-22 (up to 31.01.2022) and Rs 1,205 from additional VAT on the sale of liquor for cow welfare during the same period.
Lodha said as per the reply, the government spent Rs 5 crore on gaushala development and another Rs 20 lakh under the bio-gas scheme. He said there are 1.39 crore cows in the state, out of which about 10 lakh have gained.
He said Rs 111 crore will be spent on the setting up of nandi shalas in each block.
Assistance was being given for various other purposes related to livestock welfare as well. Lodha wanted to ask other questions, but the speaker did not allow it. This also led to an argument between Lodha and the speaker.
