No stamp duty on buying land for cow shelters: CM

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, August 5

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini today announced a stamp-duty waiver for purchase of land for cow shelters. He also announced that the state will waive property tax on cow shelters and a four-time increase in grant for fodder to Rs 20 per cow.

The CM was in Panchkula to participate in a ‘Gau Sewa Sammelan’. Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister Kanwar Pal Gujar, Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta were also present. The CM launched ‘Besahara Gauvansh Mukt Abhiyan’ — an initiative to render the state free of stray cattle.

Saini also announced that each cowshed will be provided Rs 1.25 lakh for an e-rickshaw for every 1,000 cows it keeps. He said, “There will be no need to apply for change of land use (CLU) for establishing new cowsheds. Those setting up the cow sheds will also not have to pay any external development charges (EDC) or any other fee for the purpose. No permission will be required to install a tubewell in the cowshed.”

He said the state has already installed solar power plants on 331 cowsheds out of 675 registered cowsheds. He said the government will also install solar power plants in rest 344 cowsheds.

Saini, while launching the Beshara Gauvansh Mukt Abhiyan, said the initiative was aimed at making the state free from stray cattle. He said the cow vigilantes should transport stray cows to cow shelters. He said, “Those transporting stray cattle to cow shelters will be paid Rs 600 per cow and Rs 800 per bull. The state will pay a fodder grant of Rs 20 per day for every calf, Rs 30 for every cow and Rs 40 for every bull.” Currently, the state provides Rs 4 per cow per day as grant for fodder.

He said the gram panchayats will now be able to give their panchayat land for setting up a cow shed for 20 years. This will be done after the approval of Chief Minister’s office.

Veterinary surgeon for cows

The CM said veterinary surgeon will visit cow shelters having more than 3,000 cows once a week. “We have arranged 70 mobile veterinary hospitals as well. These will be available once a week for treatment, tagging, vaccination, counting and other purposes concerning cows,” he said.

~30,000 grant per cow

Saini also announced that farmers who keep indigenous cows will be given an annual grant of Rs 30,000 per cow. He said in every city, a committee comprising veterinary doctor, administrator or secretary of Municipal Corporation and representatives of cow shelter will verify the number of cows and will encourage cow shelters to catch stray cows.

~32.73 cr released

The CM also released Rs 32.73 crore as the first instalment of fodder grant for financial year 2024-25 to gaushalas under Gaushala and Gausadan Vikas Yojana.