Facing heat over the recent deaths of over 20 cows at a bovine shelter in Kanker district, the Chhattisgarh government suspended a veterinary doctor for alleged dereliction of duty, on Tuesday.
An official said:
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon Dr K P Rai, who was in-charge of Dugakondal Veterinary Hospital, has been suspended in connection with death of at least 22 cows at the state-aided Kamdhenu Gau Sewa centre at Karramad village in Durgkondal development block of the district. The action was taken based on a preliminary probe report in connection with the incident.
As per the order issued by Animal Husbandry Department here, Rai was suspended under the Chhattisgarh Civil Service (Conduct) Rules, 1965 for “failing to take preventive measures and dereliction of duty in connection with the consistent sudden deaths of cows at the shelter home”.
The state government had already ordered a probe into the death of cows, besides weekly inspection of all shelters in the state following a controversy over the incident.
Prima facie, the administration found that negligence on the part of shelter home management led to the incident.
Meanwhile, on the direction of state’s Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal, the Director of Veterinary Services has ordered constitution of committees at the district level for inspection of cow shelter homes.
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