Chandigarh: In order to brace the rural base of the animal husbandry sector, the Punjab government would launch district level Mobile van service in twenty districts to cater to the needs of the livestock farmers in the remote rural areas of the state. This was stated here today by Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Minister Punjab in a seminar organized by the Punjab State Veterinary Council in collaboration with Punjab state Veterinary Officers’ Association to mark the World Veterinary Day held here today.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that the Punjab government has taken adequate measures to provide quality animal health services and strengthening of disease diagnostic facilities across the state. With a view to strengthening the Veterinary services in Punjab, the Minister said that an amount of Rs. 20 crore would be spent to upgrade 209 Veterinary Hospitals and 372 dispensaries during the current financial year.

He also said that an amount of Rs. 24. 73 crore would be spent on 48 tehsil and block level hospitals, setting up of the Regional Training Centre Jallandhar and up gradation of 800 Veterinary dispensaries in the state. Mr. Ranike also said that for strengthening of Semen Bank Nabha and for progeny testing Murrah buffalo bull, a grant of Rs 32.88 crore had been approved out of which the first installment of Rs. 6.73 crore has been released which would give standard lift to the cow & buffalo breed improvement programme thereby increased production of milk, he added.