Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai instructed officials during a high-level meeting held at Mahanadi Bhawan, Ministry, today to ensure effective control over the movement of stray animals on roads. He emphasized that stray animals are a major cause of road accidents and that all concerned departments must move forward with a swift, solid, and coordinated action plan to address this issue.
Chief Minister Sai directed the Departments of Animal Husbandry Development, Urban Administration and Development, Panchayat and Rural Development, and Public Works to share responsibilities with mutual coordination. He clearly stated that this problem is serious in both urban and rural areas and that any laxity in its solution will not be acceptable. In the meeting, Chief Minister Sai took detailed information about the current status of gaushalas, gauthans, kanji houses, and cow-catcher systems operating in the state. He also discussed in depth the current utility, capacity, and possibilities of improvement of these institutions and sought suggestions.
Chief Minister Sai specifically directed the development of an effective and practical model for the management of animals in villages located along national highways. He stated that the presence of animals on highways is not only a hindrance to traffic but also a cause of fatal accidents; therefore, action in this direction is necessary on a priority basis.
The meeting reviewed the cases of road accidents and the role of stray animals in them. Along with this, discussing the proposals related to Godhan Vikas, the Chief Minister talked about adopting a planned strategy for the care, fodder availability, and rehabilitation of stray and abandoned cattle. Discussions were also held on the functioning and expansion of cow-catchers to prevent animals from roaming on the roads in urban areas. Secretary of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Development Department, Shehla Nigar, through a presentation, apprised about the updated status of gaushalas, gauthans, and animal husbandry development schemes across the state.
Chhattisgarh State Gau Seva Commission President Visheshar Singh Patel, Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Subodh Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary of Panchayat and Rural Development Department Niharika Barik Singh, Secretary to the Chief Minister P. Dayanand and Rahul Bhagat, Secretary of Urban Administration Department and Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr. Basavaraju S. and Secretary of Public Works Department Dr. Kamalpreet Singh, along with senior officials of the concerned departments, were present at the meeting.