'Set aside 6 lakh sq ft land for six cowsheds'

Let's have six separate pieces of land totally measuring nearly 6 lakh sq ft earmarked for cow sheds in the upcoming Development Plan for the city.

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BJP corporator Dr Ram Barot. File pic

This is the issue taken up by BJP corporator Dr Ram Barot for the upcoming BMC meeting scheduled for December 14. He also has another issue on his agenda: government benefits from Centre and state should be given only to people with no more than two children.

Opposition
A senior BMC officer claimed that both the suggestions seem to be out of context as Mumbai is starved for space and setting aside this large a land is not feasible. Also, about the facility to be withdrawn from citizens is not BMC's jurisdiction.

Cow sheds
Barot claims he wants the cow shed issue in his notice of motion because he feels it will prevent cows from roaming the streets and eating plastic.

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"The government has declared its decision, that no cow will be slaughtered, so why not have cow sheds? They won't be roaming the streets, they won't be eating plastic and there will be place to take care of them. Also, the owner can sell milk and earn money from it," said Barot.

Barot suggests there be six cowsheds in Mumbai, each measuring 10,000 sq m. He claims that when earmarked in the Development Plan, the spots will be reserved. When asked why the current stables won't suffice, he said, "Most of the stables are for buffaloes; cows are left in the open. No one takes care of them."

Family planning
Meanwhile, his second suggestion concerns people with more than two kids. They, he thinks, should not be given any benefits from the Centre and state governments. It's based on the same argument, he says, that doesn't allow people to contest elections for local bodies if they have more than two kids.

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"Family planning cannot be on paper only. When people with more than two children aren't allowed to contest local body elections, why should they be given benefits? This will mean family planning will be followed strictly," said Barot.