JAIPUR: Rajasthan education minister Vasudev Devnani has claimed that cow dung neutralizes harmful radioactive elements . He was talking on the scientific importance of cow dung during his visit at the Hingonia Cow Rehabilitation Center on January 14 to celebrate Makar Sankranti.The event was organised by the Akshay Patra Foundation. He said cow inhales and exhales oxygen. A United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization study ‘Livestock's Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options’ released in 2006 on the contrary says that livestock contributes more to the greenhouse gases that cause global warming than cars. Even his claim of neutralizing radioactive has yet been proven."Iron, lead, concrete etc requires absorbing radioactive material whereas, cow dung contains light elements like carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous. I have not come across any such research in physical science," said Sardar Singh, former head of department, Physics, Rajasthan University in Jaipur. He retired in 2008.His claims on cows don't stop here. While explaining the spiritual importance of cows, Devnani said, “Merely going close to a cow will relieve you from cold and cough.” Counting on the medical benefits of cow dung and urine, Devnani said that cow dung contains vitamin B."The benefits of cow urine as medicine is known to all. The burning of cow dung makes the environment free from harmful micro-organisms, mosquitoes and remove the stink making the place fit for living," he said. The deficiency of vitamin B can lead to weakness, weak nervous system, and insomnia. He pressed for the need of adopting the using gas plant based on cow dung for meeting energy demands.After a session on spiritual and scientific importance of cows for humans, the minister moved on to explain its importance on farming. "Cow dung is the best fertilizer known to the mankind. During ploughing cow adds urine and dung to the field while acts as a fertilizer,” said the minister. He made rough calculation that one cow can deliver enough excreta to make 7 acres of land fertile and its urine can protect 100 acres of land from insecticides.He slammed the present society for ignoring the scientific and spiritual importance of cows in bid to seen more modern. “It is very distressing that people have forgotten the traditional and scientific value of cows. It is the duty of the society especially the youngsters that they should come forward and preserve cows as they are working hard for cleanliness and global warming,” said Devnani.