MP roads to be free of stray cattle in 2 yrs: Min

Bhopal: Replying to a ‘call attention motion' on stray cattle, the state govt on Wednesday claimed that no stray cattle will be seen on the roads after two years. minister for animal husbandry and dairy farming Lakhan Patel told the House that the govt formulated the Establishment of Self-Reliant Cow Shelters Policy 2025, which will make cow shelters independent, promote employment generation, and improve the management of stray cattle.The matter was raised jointly by former LoP Ajay Singh and Congress MLA Kailash Kushwaha. Ajay Singh told the House that despite crores of rupees being spent by the animal husbandry and dairy department, there are still 10 lakh stray cattle on the roads. "They are destroying crops and are the cause of accidents," Ajay Singh said. He claimed that crops of arhar, gram, and wheat were destroyed by stray cattle in Rewa, Satna, Sidhi, Gwalior, and Shivpuri.The former LoP said that stray cattle sit on the highways in herds and caused accidents in Bhopal and Raisen. "Stray cows need to be immediately shifted into shelters," he said. "Hi-tech cow shelters should be constructed. The state is required to take steps and pay compensation to farmers who suffered losses due to crops damaged by stray cattle," he added.Minister Lakhan Patel said that the responsibility for stray cattle management lies with the panchayat and rural development department in rural areas and the urban administration in cities. He said that in 2025, around 78,153 stray cattle were seized, and a total fine of Rs 25,58,753 was imposed on the owners.Lakhan Patel further told the House that 3,040 cow shelters are working in the state, including 2,325 under the CM's Cow Service Scheme, together with 703 NGOs and 12 run by urban civic bodies. The minister said that these shelters house 4.80 lakh stray cattle.He then said that under the govt's 2025 approved policy of Establishment of Self-Reliant Cow Shelters, a minimum of 130 acres of land was allocated for an independent and self-reliant Kamadhenu Niwas cow shelter, with a capacity to accommodate at least 5,000 bovine animals. He said that govt increased the maintenance allowance per cow from Rs 20 to Rs 40 per day. "After new cow shelters are built and arrangements are made in the next two years, stray cattle will not be seen on the roads. After two years, not even a single cow will be seen on the roads," he said.