March 3, 2022

Karnataka, India moves to ban cattle slaughter

The state government of Karnataka, India, has prohibited cattle slaughter while dismissing red flags raised by its finance department that doing so would lead to heavy expenditure, documents show. 

The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act was enacted early last year, imposing a blanket ban on the slaughter of cattle in the state. The only slaughter allowed is of terminally-ill cattle and buffalo aged above 13 years.

Stray cattle has become a major poll issue in Uttar Pradesh, which has a stringent law similar to Karnataka.

In December 2020, the finance department asked the government to reconsider its decision to implement the law. "We cannot agree to this kind of expenditure when we are struggling to make ends meet," it said, according to a cabinet note accessed by Deccan Herald.

"Next two years we expect a contraction in budget size and hence the decision of the Cabinet may be kept on hold by reconsidering the matter."

Karnataka will need ₹5,240.18 crore in four years to implement the law, the finance department said. This includes the cost of cattle maintenance at ₹70 (US$0.92) per livestock per day, setting up goshalas (protective shelters for stray cow) and making good the reduction of 27,250 tonnes of beef production.

In a reply that he tabled in the recent legislature session, Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chauhan said the process of opening goshalas in each of the 30 districts is under way.

"So far, bhumi puja (for construction to begin) has been done in Tumakuru, Chikballapur, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Haveri, Koppal, Vijayapura, Belagavi and Kodagu districts," he stated.

The government has released ₹36-53.50 lakh to each of the 30 districts for setting up of goshalas. According to the finance department, Karnataka will need 2,417 goshalas - one for every 200 cattle heads with ₹50 lakh for basic infrastructure - costing ₹1,208.50 crore, it said.

The government, in the Cabinet note, justified the new law in that any delay in implementing it would lead to the slaughter of 662 cattle everyday.

- Deccan Herald