Govt forms panel to frame SOPs for bovine transport

Srinagar, Apr 10: The Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has constituted a high-level committee to draft comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for regulating the transport of bovine animals across the Union Territory, officials said on Friday.
The committee, constituted through an order issued by the General Administration Department, will examine existing laws and legal frameworks to prepare detailed SOPs governing bovine transport both by vehicles and on foot, they said.
Officials said that the panel has been tasked with laying down documentation and verification protocols, including permits and health certificates, which would be mandatorily checked by enforcement agencies during inspections.
The committee will also recommend measures to ensure animal welfare during transit, strengthen inter-departmental coordination, and frame standard procedures to curb illegal transport while ensuring the smooth movement of lawful consignments, they added.
Furthermore, the panel has been directed to suggest technology-driven solutions to improve transparency and efficiency in monitoring bovine movement across the Union Territory, the officials said. (KNS)