Plan to strengthen veterinary institutions in Punjab

Chandigarh, Oct 30 (UNI) The Punjab government has undertaken a massive plan to strengthen all veterinary institutions and polyclinics in the state so as to enhance the production of dairy animals.

Disclosing this here today, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike said that Punjab is famous for Murrah and Nili Ravi breeds of buffalo which are in great demand in the country.

The cross-breed cows have contributed substantially in improving milk production in the state. During 2006-2007, 90 lakh tonnes milk was produced in the state and Punjab thus contributed 11 per cent share to the central milk pool.

Mr Ranike said that some new schemes had been formulated for bringing large-scale improvement in the dairy sector.

To tackle the menance of stray animals, the department had sent schemes to Animal Welfare Board of India in the Ministry of Environment and Social Justice. Under these schemes, funds would be allocated for construction of cattle pounds and for immunisation and sterilisation of stray dogs.

The Minister said that Nabard had approved a proposal to give Rs 40,00 crore assistance for construction of district-level new veterinary polyclinics with sophisticated facilities at Amritsar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Kapurthala, Jalandhar and Mohali so that farmers got specialized services in their own district .

Similarly, 42 sub-divisional level and 47 block level hospitals would be constructed in the state which would have all modern facilities.

He said the existing 10 polyclinics in the state would be upgraded and strengthened in terms of modern equipments and diagnostic facilities.

UNI