In Yogi’s rule, stray cows will be shifted to jail; prisoners to take care of them

Lucknow: Authorities in Uttar Pradesh have found a solution to the stray cattle menace. They are mulling construction of cow shelters on the excess land of prison. The divisional commissioner has asked officials to explore the possibilities of utilising excess land of prisons for construction of cow shelters. He directed them to come up with sheds, if possible, before January 31.

Anil Garg divisional commissioner, however, said it is just a proposal and not sweeping orders. He informed that cow shelters were already running on premises of at least 12 prisons, including district jails in Barabanki, Sultanpur, Sitapur, Bareilly, Unnao and Agra and central jails in Varanasi, Fatehgarh, Agra, Bareilly and Naini (Prayagraj) besides modern jail in Lucknow.

If the proposal is put to practice, jail staff and inmates would also be pressed into service for taking care of these animals. They would be paid stipend and allowances by the government.