Former Chief Minister and former Union Minister Shanta Kumar has urged the Himachal Pradesh government to enact a law making it mandatory for major temples in the state to operate cow shelters. He said this move would help address the growing problem of stray animals, which are increasingly causing road accidents and loss of lives.
In a press release Shanta Kumar pointed out that with the rapid increase in population and vehicles, stray cattle have become a major concern on the state’s roads. “Many people are being killed and injured in such accidents. It is time for decisive action,” he said.
Highlighting the significant wealth of temples in Himachal Pradesh, Shanta Kumar stated that six major shrines—Mata Chintpurni, Mata Naina Devi, Mata Jwalamukhi, Mata Chamunda Devi, Mata Brajeshwari Devi (Kangra), and Baba Balak Nath Ji—collectively hold assets worth around ₹2,000 crore, including ₹85 crore in cash, ₹300 crore in fixed deposits, ₹500 crore in gold, and ₹200 crore in silver.
“There are 36 temples under government control in the state, and all possess assets worth crores. If each major temple is given the legal responsibility to run a gaushala, Himachal could become the first state in the country where no stray cattle roam the roads,” he said.
The former Chief Minister appealed to Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu to take the bold step of implementing this idea as a historic initiative. “This will not only solve the stray animal problem but also uphold the values of cow protection in Hinduism. Moreover, such a noble cause will enhance the temples’ spiritual and social contribution,” he added.
Shanta Kumar also noted that the state government currently collects a ‘cow cess’ of ₹10 on every bottle of liquor, generating about ₹1,000 crore annually, and said that these funds should be effectively utilized for cow protection.
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