‘Will help check crop damage by stray cattle’

LUCKNOW: Parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Khanna on Tuesday informed the Vidhan Sabha that the state government will take necessary steps to check any damage to crops by stray animals. The kanji house (cow pen) system will be revised for this purpose, he said.

Khanna was replying to a question by SP member Manoj Pandey, who said stray animals were damaging crops. The increasing number of stray animals on roads were causing road accidents, he said. As many as 359 people were injured in attacks by stray animals in the past one year, he said.

BJP member Ashok Chandel demanded that a committee be constituted to find a solution to the problem of stray animals.

Minister for animal husbandry SP Baghel said there were about five crore animals in the state, including two crore cows and two crore buffaloes. He said the state government would do what it was necessary for the protection of cows and their slaughter will not be allowed. Khanna reiterated the state government will take necessary steps for the protection of cows.

NO SHORTAGE OF SAND

Parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Khanna said there was no shortage of coarse sand and sand in the state. He said the rate of coarse sand was Rs 45 per cubic feet while that of sand was Rs 22 to 24 per cubic feet. The state government was getting more royalty from e-tendering of mining for minor minerals, he said.