Guj plans exclusive sanctuary for cows

Gujarat government is contemplating a cow sanctuary near Porbandar, the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi, in a bid to promote "bovine-based economy".

Gujarat, which has strict anti-cow slaughter laws in place, will become the second such state to have the cow sanctuary after Madhya Pradesh, if the plan materialises.

"The exclusive cow sanctuary will come up in Dharampur village in Ranavav taluka of Porbandar district," Gujarat State Gauseva Ayog (Gujarat State Cow Protection Board) Chairman Vallabh Kathiria said.

The planned sanctuary, likely to come up on 800-900 hectares of land, is expected to serve as home to at least 10,000 cows of different breeds, he said.

"The land for the sanctuary has been acquired. We have appointed a consultant to conduct study and submit feasibility report. After the report is submitted, we will initiate work," Kathiria said.

Kathiria, a former Union minister of state, said that after the initial years, a research centre would also come up.

"Promoting cow-based economy will be the main aim of the sanctuary," the chairman said, adding that products made from milk, dung and urine of cow will be manufactured on a large scale at the facility.

The government will also involve women from 'Mission Mangalam' project and train them in manufacturing various cow by-products, he said.

"Bio-fertilisers, bio-insecticides will be manufactured here. The sanctuary will also provide training to farmers regarding how to take care of health of cows and how to maximise revenues from cows and its products," Kathiria said.

He said that fertilisers made from cow by-products will cut country's dependence on import of urea and other fertilisers substantially. "This can additionally save India annual subsidies worth Rs 1.45 lakh crore," he highlighted.

"A bag of urea, at present, costs Rs 1,300 while cow-dung based bio-fertiliser costs only Rs 300 per bag," Kathiria added.