The Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Tuesday approved a plan to set up and run temporary 'gauvansh ashray asthals' under the urban and rural civic bodies in order to take proper care of stray cattle. A government spokesman said that the state cabinet meeting, presided by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, approved the plan and said a "cow welfare cess" will be imposed for the same.

In every district, both urban and rural areas, a cow shed (gaushalas) with capacity of minimum 1,000 animals will be built and for this a total of 2 per cent "cow welfare cess" will be imposed on excise, mandi parishad, profitable corporations and others, he said.

Besides aiding the animal husbandry department, these 'ashray asthals' will be working on a self-sustaining model. Notably, the Chief Minister on last week had directed the officials to make immediate arrangements for proper care of stray cows.