Cow slaughter detrimental to environment: Maha CM

Stating that cow slaughter leaves "very adverse impact" on environment, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said the animal is an important element of "human chain" and its conservation is nothing to do with religion.
"Cow urine and dung increase productivity of land. As such, a cow plays an important role in agriculture and hence deserves total conservation and protection," Fadnavis said.
He was speaking on the occasion of bhoomipujan ceremony of 'Govansha Chikitsalaya' at Nandura Budruk village.
"Conservation of cows has nothing to do with religion...It is not merely a religious concept. But Indian traditions have a scientific base and conservation of cows is a part of that scientific base," Fadnavis said.

He said slaughter of cows "leaves very adverse effect on environment", and added protection of the animal is vital for maintaining environmental balance.
"If tiger is an important element of food chain (in the forest ecosystem), cow is an important element of the human chain," he added.

Appealing farmers to opt for organic farming, he said though chemical fertilisers boost productivity, their use affects potency of soil.
He said 'goshalas' (cow shelters) based on the concept of organic farming would be build across Maharashtra and such project would serve as a model for other states.
The extended 'Govansh Chikitsalaya', coming up on 30-acre piece of land, envisages providing free of cost medicare to sick cows.

The facility in its current capacity has 200 cows and the project aims at sheltering 1000 on completion.