70 mobile veterinary units for the state

By NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Union Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala on Saturday flagged off 70 mobile veterinary units in front of the Vidhana Soudha. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Karnataka Minister for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AHVS) Prabhu Chavan also joined hands in the flagging of the vehicles.

The mobile veterinary units were procured under the Livestock Health and Disease Control (LHDC) programme of the Government of India. A total of 275 such units will be pressed into service under the scheme fully funded by the Centre.

Director of the State Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Dr Manjunath S Palegar told News Trail that the initiative was in response to the demand in rural areas for veterinary care. “With the introduction of the mobile units, animals need not be brought to veterinary clinics which are usually far away for many villagers.

The veterinary team will reach the animal in need,” he said and added that those in need of the service can contact the Karnataka AHVS helpline – 1962.

The units were procured at a cost of Rs 16 lakh per unit amounting to Rs 44 crore for 275 mobile veterinary units. It is said that the project will be extended to thirteen other states in the days to come.