West Bengal's Lok Bhavan is set to house a gaushala, a significant departure from tradition, on its expansive 27-acre grounds, making it the largest such facility within a governor's residence in India. This project, planned in consultation with the Animal Resource Development (ARD) and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), aims to integrate modern amenities like waste management for biogas and fertilizer production alongside the cow shed. The initiative aligns with the central government's Gokul mission and represents a notable shift in the utilization of the historic Lok Bhavan, which was once the Viceroy's residence.

West Bengal's Lok Bhavan is set to house a gaushala, a significant departure from tradition, on its expansive 27-acre grounds, making it the largest such facility within a governor's residence in India. This project, planned in consultation with the Animal Resource Development (ARD) and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), aims to integrate modern amenities like waste management for biogas and fertilizer production alongside the cow shed. The initiative aligns with the central government's Gokul mission and represents a notable shift in the utilization of the historic Lok Bhavan, which was once the Viceroy's residence.

West Bengal's Lok Bhavan is set to house a gaushala, a significant departure from tradition, on its expansive 27-acre grounds, making it the largest such facility within a governor's residence in India. This project, planned in consultation with the Animal Resource Development (ARD) and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), aims to integrate modern amenities like waste management for biogas and fertilizer production alongside the cow shed. The initiative aligns with the central government's Gokul mission and represents a notable shift in the utilization of the historic Lok Bhavan, which was once the Viceroy's residence.

West Bengal’s Lok Bhavan is set to house a gaushala or cow shed, which is a break from the tradition through the decades in the state. The gaushala is set to come up in the premises of 27 acres of land, being the largest of the governor houses in the country, built in 1803. The mansion covers an area of 84,000 square feet.

A preliminary meeting was held at Lok Bhavan where the project was discussed and a Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be prepared in weeks to come in consultation with all stakeholders including the Animal Resource Development (ARD) and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC).

“The Centre has the Gokul mission and we are helping set up gaushalas that are beneficial,” said ARD Minister Dilip Ghosh.

The gaushala will include different breeds and will have veterinary experts to look into the well being of the cows which will come under the ARD while sanctioning of the structure and deploying engineers and workforce will be done by KMC. The shed will be a permanent structure. While West Bengal is not the first state to have a gaushala inside Lok Bhavan, it is a shift from the cultural heritage since the time of the British rule. The Lok Bhavan was once the residence of the Viceroy of India before the capital of country shifted to Delhi in 1911. Other BJP-ruled states which have a gaushala within Lok Bhavan include Goa, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.

Political analyst Udayan Bandhyopadhyay are of the opinion that a gaushala in Lok Bhavan does not match the cultural identity of West Bengal. “The honorable governor has many other things to do like look into the pattern of higher education system as he is the chancellor of so many universities,” he said.

“If the governor wants to have a gaushala within Raj Bhavan it is his wish,” said TMC leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay of the Mamata Banerjee faction.

The Lok Bhavan will also include waste management, bio gas and fertiliser conversion mechanisms. There are also plans to swan rearing and fish farming within the plan apart from housing a gaushala. The details are being worked out and the project is yet to be approved.

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