Agri mandis should pay more cow cess: Yogi

With the aim to generate more resources for gaushalas (cow sheds), Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that since the income of agricultural mandis had increased, they should give three per cent cess for cow shelters instead of the existing two per cent.

The chief minister made this announcement during the 157th meeting of the governing council of State Agricultural Produce Market Board (Mandi Parishad) held at Lok Bhawan here on Thursday.

He said the additional money generated through the increased cess should be given to only those institutions that run cow shelters with devotion and keep them neat and clean.

Some amount of this money could also go to the Animal Husbandry Department, he added.

The government has sanctioned Rs 47.50 crore in the current financial year for maintenance of destitute and stray bovines kept in temporary bovine shelter homes.

Of this, Rs 4.42 crore has been sanctioned for Kanha Gaushalas and cattle shelter homes run by Lucknow Nagar Nigam.

A government order has been issued in this regard by the Animal Husbandry Department.

During his address, the chief minister cautioned officials against traders who could hoard essential commodities like pulses and cooking oil in view of the ongoing tensions in the Gulf countries.

“Some people may indulge in black marketing, storage and smuggling of essential commodities in view of tension in the Gulf region. Such people can increase the prices of these commodities by creating artificial shortages. Keep a close eye on them and take stern action if necessary. Also, keep a special watch on the prices of pulses, oil and vegetables”, Yogi Adityanath said.

The chief minister directed that one lab each should be set up in Lucknow, Varanasi and Gorakhpur as well as in Bundelkhand and Western UP for organic products.

“It would be better to set up such labs in Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in every district,” the chief minister said.

As per the guidelines of the Centre, 500 ‘haat paith’ (local market) in the state should be made with the consent of the gram panchayats concerned.

“Make panchayats accountable for the upkeep of ‘haat paith’. For this, the panchayats should also charge a minimum fee,” he said.

The chief minister pointed out that the mandis formed under the Bundelkhand package had not been shifted so far and directed officials to shift them by increasing the facilities there.

“Encourage export of agricultural products from the state. Whatever conditions are set for these, they should be absolutely clear so that no one interprets it according to one’s interests,” the chief minister said

Minister of State with Independent Charge Sriram Chauhan, chief secretary, additional chief secretary, principal secretary, special secretary and director of the departments concerned were present in the meeting.