After failing to elicit the interest of NGOs and private parties in its cattle shelters scheme, the Maharashtra government has now decided to build one on its own at Dapchari, in Palghar district, some 130 km from Mumbai.
The government said it was even ready to bear the expenses of transporting the “unfit” animals to the shelters in Dapchari.
Six months after sanctioning Rs 34 crore to set up cow shelters in every district, the state government has found that the funds are lying unused owing to the scheme’s faulty mechanism. Activists and experts have said the scheme could lead to land-grabbing in the name of setting up cattle shelters. However, the animal husbandry and dairy development department has now decided to have its own cow shelter.
“We have hundreds of acres in Dapchari near Mumbai. We plan to build a cattle shelter there. We are ready to take care of unfit and old cattle that have outgrown their utility to farmers. The department will bear the cost incurred by farmers while transporting animals to Dapchari,” said Mahadev Jankar, minister for animal husbandry and dairy development.
Mr Jankar told this paper the state had sufficient funds to maintain these animals at the proposed shelter.
“In case of ailing cattle, the farmers can get them treated at the shelter and take them back,” the minister added.
The state plans aside, the existing cow shelters that are run by NGOs and specific communities are facing fund crunch.
Mahesbhai Mahajan, who looks after a gau shala run by his community in Achalpur in Amaravati district said the shelter had more than 100 cattle, including old and fit animals. “We get funds from our community (Mahajan). The gau shala cannot function with just ailing and old animals. So, we bought milch cows whose milk we sell to sustain the gau shala,” said Mr Mahajan.
He also pointed out that the gau shala incurred expenditure on food, green grass, medical treatment, payment for its workers, among others. “It is not easy to run the gau shala. We get funds, as we are attached to a temple, yet we face difficulties,” he said.
Agriculture expert and NCP MLA Shankaranna Dhondge termed the government’s plan futile. “It is not clear how the government will implement the scheme, and how much funds would be required for the same. The government’s initial plan received no response, so it has moved on to another project without giving it much thought,” Mr Dhondge said.
