Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Feb 17: The state government has taken up an initiative to provide shelter to cows, beginning with 25 A category temples falling within state muzrai department. These shelters will be aiming at conservation of indigenous breeds of cattle, cattle which may be abandoned by people who are unable to look them after, abandoned sick cattle, cattle that are left on their own etc.

Muzrai minister Kota Srinivas Pooojary, said that this scheme had been envisaged when the BJP government was ruling the state but it had been scrapped after the term of the then government ended. He said that these shelters will come up under the old scheme for protection of indigenous breeds of cattle, for purposes like pure milk, manure for agriculture etc.

Kota Srinivas Poojary

After the current scheme of performing mass marriages becomes a reality, the cow shelters will be installed, it is learnt. In the twin-districts, such shelters will come up at Kollur Goddess Mookambika temple where a cow shelter already exists, Madarti Goddess Durgaparameshwari temple, Kateel Goddess Durgaparameshwari temple, Kukke Lord Subrhamanya temple etc.

Under the scheme, muzrai department will take into possession ten acres of government land in places where it opens cow shelter. The spot need not be very near the temple. The cattle will be provided with fodder, water, medical treatment etc, and the cattle rescued by the police will be given shelter. Initial target is 100 cattle and later it will be expanded subject to availability of facilities. It is planned to use income of respective temples for running the shelters, and discussions are on.

Harish Shetty, president of the executive committee of Kollur temple, noted that the temple is already running a cow shelter and he hailed the government for its decision to protect cattle by opening cow shelters in temples. He asked the government to provide enough space and facilities for the cattle.

In this respect, discussions were held with heads of Maths, sages, religious leaders and experts. Poojary gave a hint that the shelters might be inspired by the cow shelter of Pejawar Math at Neelavar and Go Swarga scheme of Hosanagar Sri Raghaveshwara Swamiji.