Raipur: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government in Chhattisgarh, headed by Raman Singh, today (Dec 17, 2003) banned cow slaughter in the state and decided to give respite to the farmers by writing off their soft loans.

Cow slaughter is now totally banned in the state and anyone engaged in it will attract punishment, the Chief Minister told reporters in Raipur at the Secretariat.

In first ever Cabinet meeting after taking charge on December 7, Singh said besides banning cow slaughter the Government has also decided to set up new 'Gaushalas' in the state and strengthen the existing ones as promised in their election manifesto.

Addressing the largest segment of farmers in the state, the BJP Government also decided to write off the loan amount of Rs 2500 from the small and marginal farmers and that will be adjusted in their credit books.

About Rs 70 crore is needed for that and details are being worked out, the Chief Minister said, adding the Government has also decided not to have any ceiling in paddy procurement from the farmers considering that agriculture is the main source of income of the people.

There will be constant monitoring of the procurement process being done through the 1334 primary co- operative societies of the state and instruction have also been issued to make instant payment to the farmers, Singh said.

Earlier, at the cabinet meeting several members had pointed out that there were problems in procurement of paddy in their areas and delay in payment, official sources said.

PTI