'Cow shelters being opened beginning from 25 A category temples'

Kundapura: The state government has started a program to build cow shelters in 25 of the Category A temples under the Muzrai department.

The shelters built under this program will house abandoned, sick or orphaned cattle and also conserve indigenous bovine breeds.

The Muzrai department will set up the shelter in ten acres of land somewhere near the temples. At the shelter, cows will be provided with fodder and medical facilities. Initially, the shelter will house 100 cows which can be expanded later.

Some of the first shelters will be constructed at the Kollur Mookambika temple, Mandarthi Durgaparameshwari temple, Kateel Durgaparameshwari temple, Kukke Subramanya temple etc. The temples may be asked to utilise some of their income in operating these shelters.

Kota Srinivas Poojary, the minister for Muzrai said that this program was already in the works in the previous BJP-led government but was scrapped after the government changed.