In a high-level meeting at Mahanadi Bhawan, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai emphasized the need for urgent measures to control stray animals on roads. He highlighted that these animals significantly contribute to road accidents and ordered officials from various departments to implement a coordinated and effective action plan.
Departments including Animal Husbandry Development, Urban Administration and Development, Panchayat and Rural Development, and Public Works were instructed to work in collaboration. The Chief Minister made it clear that this issue demands immediate attention in both urban and rural areas, and any leniency will not be tolerated. The meeting also involved a comprehensive review of the current state of gaushalas, gauthans, kanji houses, and cow-catcher systems. Discussions were held on their utilization, capacity, and potential for improvement, with the Chief Minister seeking suggestions for enhancement.
Furthermore, CM Sai specifically directed the development of practical models for managing animals in villages adjacent to national highways. He noted that animals on highways pose not only a traffic obstruction but also a serious risk of fatal accidents, mandating priority action in this regard. The meeting also evaluated road accident cases and the role of stray animals in them. Discussions centered on proposals related to Godhan Vikas, focusing on a structured approach to caring for, providing fodder to, and rehabilitating stray and abandoned cattle. The functionality and expansion of cow-catchers in urban areas to control roaming animals were also discussed. Shehla Nigar, Secretary of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Development Department, presented an update on the status of gaushalas, gauthans, and animal husbandry development schemes across the state.