Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore   

Animal park planned

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE DEC. 11. The Minister for Animal Husbandry and Sugar, M. Mahadev, said here on Wednesday that the State Government would set up an animal park at Hesaraghatta, near here, to promote the cause of animal welfare.

Speaking to presspersons after a meeting of the State Animal Welfare Board, the minister said that the park would be a joint venture of the State and Union governments. Around 2,100 acres of land had been identified for the purpose and the modalities were being worked out. Since many farms and institutions were located at Hesaraghatta, it was an ideal place for the park. Later it would be developed into a tourist spot, he added. H.Rafeeq Anwar, Additional Director, Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, said the Department had also identified a 75-acre plot near Bidadi to set up a slaughterhouse. All slaughterhouses located in Fraser Town, Yeshwantpur, City Market, and other places would be shifted to that place, he said. The project would cost Rs. 25 crore. The main objective of the project was to prevent movement of animals in Bangalore, which was hindering the free flow of traffic, he said.

With the aid of the Union Government, the department would implement the National Cattle and Buffalo Development Project in the State. The Rs. 93-crore project would be executed in five years, T. Aswathanarayana, Director, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, said.

Giving details of the project, he said that the department would create a separate agency to implement the project. The Union Government had imposed a condition to set up an agency to implement the project. The Centre would release funds directly to the agency to execute the project. The project would enable the development of indigenous breeds, he said.

The department had also implemented a Rs. 1-crore project at Mudhol in Bagalkot District for Mudhol hounds, Mr. Aswathanarayana said.

The State Animal Welfare Board held its first meeting today in the presence of Mr. Mahadev. Various projects of the department were discussed at the meeting.

The State recently set up the board as per the suggestion of the Centre. The main function of the board would be to advise the State Government on measures to prevent suffering to animals when they were being transported or when they were kept in captivity, advise the State Government on matters relating to medical care which may be provided in veterinary centres and other issues concerning animals.

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