Lucknow: With temperatures already crossing 40 degrees Celsius across the state, the Animal Husbandry Department has issued instructions to ensure proper arrangements in all cow shelters.For the safety of animals in the scorching heat, the department has made it mandatory to provide water misting system, coolers, fans, drinking water and shade in cow sheds.Officials have been directed to regularly inspect the cow shelters and monitor the arrangements so that any deficiencies can be rectified immediately. Shady trees are also being planted in cowsheds.The department has also adopted a strategy to overcome the fodder shortage. Mukesh Meshram, Additional Chief Secretary, Animal Husbandry Department, said, “Instructions have been given to run a special campaign to free the pasture land from encroachment in the state. To ensure long-term availability of green fodder, emphasis has been laid on sowing hybrid Napier grass on the freed land.”Jaunpur district magistrate has distributed ‘Punya FD’ certificates to those who donate straw, Meshram said, adding that DMs of Azamgarh, Baghpat, Saharanpur and Hardoi have made special arrangements for water misting systems, fans, coolers and foggers in cow sheds.He said that 10 districts including Maharajganj, Jaunpur, Ballia, Varanasi, Etah, Saharanpur, Shahjahanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Chitrakoot and Gorakhpur are currently playing a leading role in the campaign of straw donation.