CHANDIGARH: With a view to bring diversification in agriculture and to improve the economy of the rural sector, the Punjab government has undertaken a massive plan to strengthen all veterinary institutions and veterinary polyclinics   in the State so as to enhance the production of dairy animals.

Gulzar Singh Ranike Animal Husbandry, Fisheries Dairy Development Minister Punjab. He said that Punjab is famous for Murrah and Nili Ravi breeds of buffalo which are in great demand in rest of the country. The cross breed cows have contributed substantially in improving milk production in the State. During 2006-2007, 90 lac tones of milk was produced in the State and thus contributed 11% share in the central milk pool. Per capita availability of milk is 930 grams which is highest in the country. Mr. Ranike further said that the department has formulated some new schemes for bringing large scale improvement in the dairy sector.

To tackling the menance of stray animals, the department has sent schemes to Animals Welfare Board of India in the Ministry of Environment and Social Justice. Under these schemes, funds would be allocated for construction of cattle pounds in the state and also for immunization and sterilization of stray dogs which has become a big problem to the society and cause rabies to other animals and man.

The Minister also said that the department has been able to get approval for the proposal of Rs. 40,00 crore assistance from Nabard for construction of district level new   polyclinics at Amritsar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Kapurthala, Jalandhar and Mohali with all sophisticated and modern equipments and facilities  like operation theatre, labs, X-ray machines, Ultra sound machines etc. would provided so that the farmers get specialized services in their own district . Similarly, 42 sub-divisional level and 47 block level hospitals would be constructed in the state which would have all modern facilities. The existing 10 polyclinics at Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Bathinda, Mansa, Sangrur, Patiala, Ropar, Muktsar (Badal) would be upgraded and strengthened in terms of all modern equipments and diagnostic facilities.