A new law for the protection of cows which also imposes a ban on cow slaughter -- the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act -- came into force in the state from Thursday.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the Act became effective from Thursday after getting approval from President Pranab Mukherjee recently.

He said the Act had the backing of the Muslim community in the state.

On the occasion of ‘Gopasthami’, Khattar formally released the notification of the Act during a function organised at Shri Krishna Gaushala in Karnal, 120 km from here.

“The bill was passed unanimously by all 90 members of the assembly, including three Muslim legislators who hail from Mewat. People from the Muslim community have also appreciated the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Bill and assured to provide every possible help in its implementation,” Khattar said.

“Many people from the Muslim community claim that their ancestors were ‘Yadhuvanshi’ as they used to rear cows. A Muslim Gaushala has also been set up in Mewat,” he said.

Under the new Act, cow slaughter is completely banned in Haryana and there is strict punishment for the same. Sale of beef is also banned in the state under the Act.

The chief minister said Bhani Ram Mangla has been appointed chairman of the newly constituted ‘Gau Seva Aayog’, which started functioning from Thursday itself.

Khattar urged people living in urban areas to ask their relatives in rural areas to rear an extra cow on their account, as they (urban people) could not rear cows due to lack of space.

He said the Haryana government has implemented various schemes to promote cow rearing in the state, including grant of up to 50 percent for setting up a mini dairy with minimum five cows. Incentive ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 was being given for rearing indigenous cows.