Punjab Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu today said that all encroached lands of concerned farms of Animal Husbandry department in the state would be vacated within a month. He said that a formal letter in this regard would soon be sent to all Deputy Commissioners of the state. He said that once all the encroachments are removed, the revenue of the department would increase considerably. While reviewing the working of the heads of all animal farms of the state in the office of Deputy Director Animal Husbandry Farm at Mattewara, near here, Mr Sidhu said that eight animal farms are running in the state and around 750 acre land is under these farms. He said that due to the poor policies of the previous state government, some persons have encroached upon big chunks of these lands. He assured that all such encroachments would be vacated within a months time. While giving further details, he informed that more than 40 acre land is under the Animal Farm, Mattewara alone, which is now encroached by one family. Directing the senior department officials of immediate action, he asked them to issue letters to all Deputy Commissioners to ensure all such encroachments are vacated within a month. Showing unhappiness over the working of the animal farms of the state, Mr Sidhu said that a detailed plan is being formulated under which the working of the farms would be made better. He said that although the farms have proper infrastructure and other amenities, but still the animals are not maintained properly, neither is the record maintained, which is unacceptable. He directed senior officials present on the spot to ensure that a monthly progress report is sought from all the farms on regular basis without fail. And if there is need for more infrastructure, it should be provided to the farms. He also ordered that the officials should ensure that the responsibility of entire machinery of a farm should be with only one official (custodian) so that the machinery can be put to use whenever required.
He also directed that a monthly stock of animal feed/fodder should also be maintained at all farms without fail. It is pertinent to mention that Balbir Singh Sidhu had carried out a surprise check at Mattewara Farms few days back and had found several anomalies there. A departmental inquiry was ordered, after which Deputy Director Mr Narinderpal Sharma, Veterinary Officer Mr Rajeev Nanda and Veterinary Inspector Mr Darshan Singh were suspended.Mr Sidhu said that he is getting information regarding anomalies in other offices of the department as well. He said that he is taking all these matters very seriously and is trying to understand as to why these anomalies are there and ways through which they can be checked. He said that officials responsible for these anomalies would be dealt with strictly and departmental as well as legal action would be taken against them. Prominent among those present on the occasion included Animal Husbandry Department Secretary Mr Raj Kamal Chaudhary, Director Dr Inderjit Singh, ADC Khanna Mr Jaspal Singh, SDM Ludhiana (East) Mr Amarjit Singh Bains, Animal Husbandry Department Joint Director Mr Harsh Mohan Walia, Deputy Director Mr Ashok Sharma, Political Secretary to Minister Mr Harkesh Chand Sharma, besides several others. Mr Balbir Singh Sidhu informed that the Animal Husbandry Department would soon be providing sexed semen to the animal keepers of the state so that the population of milch cattle is increased. He said that in the first phase, sexed semen of hybrid cows, where the chances of a female are 90%. He said that with the success of this programme, the income of animal keepers would increase considerably, besides the number of stray cattle would decrease.