Chandigarh, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday said a special drive will be launched to catch stray cattle and ensure that every animal is tagged for proper identification.
Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana was also present. The chief minister directed officials to fix responsibility on such owners and take action against them. The meeting also discussed a proposal to impose a fine of ₹ 11,000 on owners when an animal is caught for the first time, ₹ 21,000 for a second offence and registration of an FIR if the animal is caught for a third time.
Saini said proper identification of cattle would help fix responsibility and enable action against owners if animals belonging to households or ‘gaushalas’ are found roaming outside. Saini directed the Animal Husbandry Department to undertake a statewide drive to ensure tagging of every head of cattle and said tagging should also be made mandatory when animals caught by urban local bodies are handed over to gaushalas. He was chairing a meeting of the Haryana Gau Seva Aayog and the Animal Husbandry Department here on Wednesday.
It was also proposed that such cattle owners could be deprived of government benefits for their animals, including vaccination and insurance premium support, besides being placed on a negative list.
Directing officials to make proper arrangements at cattle sanctuaries, the chief minister said appropriate fencing should be provided and a boundary wall constructed around areas where animals are kept. Green fodder should be cultivated on the remaining land, he said.
