Uttar Pradesh tags cattle with radium strips for safety

The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a new initiative to tag cattle near highways with radium strips. This program aims to reduce traffic accidents caused by cattle on major roads. Animal husbandry minister Dharampal Singh launched the project in Qazi Khera, near the state capital. The tagging will target cattle owned by farmers in villages close to highways. The idea came after the transport commissioner suggested that fluorescent tapes could help reduce accidents involving stray animals. The campaign will now distribute radium strips to farmers in all these villages. In addition to the tagging program, the minister announced the creation of a cattle conservation center in Qazi Khera, with an investment of ₹1.80 crore. Local district officials have been asked to secure funding for the initiative from government resources. Each radium strip will cost the government ₹30, and there are no funding issues, according to the minister. The animal husbandry department will work with various state departments to implement this program. The government aims to improve the earnings of farmers by not just focusing on crops but also on animal husbandry. This includes providing special grants for high-quality cattle and loans for farmers involved in animal farming. According to the latest livestock census, there are nearly 1.2 million stray cattle in Uttar Pradesh. The state has numerous facilities, including temporary shelters and large-scale conservation centers, to care for these animals. The government is currently spending about ₹7 crore daily to maintain and feed the stray cattle.