Shimla: Sanctuary in Sunni to house 700 cows

Shimla, January 4

A cow sanctuary constructed at a cost of Rs 2.20 crore on 35 bighas in the Sunni area of Shimla district will be opened this month. The sanctuary, housing 700 cows, will be developed into a breeding centre for indigenous breeds such as Pahadi (Gauri), Gir, Red Sindhi, Sahiwal and Tharparkar.

Efforts are being made to provide a safe place to bovines, with facilities of drinking water as well as dry and green fodder. Essential veterinary services, including identification of animals with ear tagging, will also be provided to develop it into a tourist attraction.

The sanctuary will have a biogas plant to take care of its energy requirements for fuel, light and water pumping. It will prepare biofertilisers and biopesticides, which can be sold to local farmers at concessional rate. This will be the sixth cow sanctuary in the state.—TNS