Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh formed a five-member cabinet sub-committee to check the growing menace of cattle stray in the state, on Monday, September 17. According to an official statement, he also announced Rs 10 lakh each to the Deputy Commissioners for opening an additional cow shelter in their respective districts to address the problem.

Committee formed to tackle the problem of stray cattle

The committee, headed by Animal Husbandry Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, has PWD Minister Vijay Inder Singla, Local Government Minister Brahm Mahindra, Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu and Industries Minister Sunder Sham Arora as members. The panel has been mandated to suggest ways and means to tackle the problem of stray cattle in a holistic manner, to save precious human lives due to fatal accidents caused by the animals, the statement said.

READ | Congress rejects Punjab party chief Sunil Jakhar’s resignation

The Chief Minister asked the Deputy Commissioners to open one more 'gaushala' in their respective districts with the help of NGOs, social and religious organisations, reviewing the status of cow-shelters already operational in all the districts. The statement said the Chief Minister also directed all the Deputy Commissioners to make elaborate arrangements in collaboration with the departments of Rural Development and Panchayats, Local Government and Animal Husbandry, to house the stray cattle in the cattle pounds.

READ | Amarinder Singh apprises Sonia Gandhi on his Govt's performance

2.5 lakh stray animals in the state of Punjab

There are currently 2.5 lakh stray animals in the state and the committee will explore ways to eradicate the menace, besides regularly monitoring the progress of implementation and achievement of the specific targets under the action plan in this regard. 'The sub-committee will also further mandate the district administrations to undertake the task to finalise the action plan for checking the stray cattle menace in a result-oriented manner,' the statement said.

Resignation in Punjab Congress

Amid the slew of resignations following the massive defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress on Saturday rejected the resignation of its Punjab Unit Chief, Sunil Jakhar. He had resigned as the Punjab Congress chief in the wake of his defeat in the General elections to BJP's Sunny Deol from Gurdaspur constituency. Congress in-charge of Punjab affairs Asha Kumari, rejected Sunil Jakhar's resignation stating that he is expected to carry on the good work that he has been doing.

READ | Ludhiana City Centre Scam: CM Amarinder Singh not guilty, says VB

READ | Jaishankar assures help to Punjab CM, after 4 Sikh men drown in Italy

(With ANI inputs)