UP CM Yogi Adityanath, who was there at the presentation of state budget, has previously been accused of prioritising the lives of cows over humans. (Photo: India Today)

Once again making its views on cow welfare clear, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh presented the state budget where Rs 247.60 crore have been proposed for maintenance and construction of gaushalas (cow shelters) in rural areas. Finance minister Rajesh Agarwal today presented the state budget for the financial year 2019-2020.

The BJP government in Uttar Pradesh said Rs 200 crore have been allocated for Kanha Gaushala and Besahara Pashu Ashram in urban areas.

An estimated revenue of Rs 165 crore will be utilised for the maintenance of destitue cattle in the state.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was there at the presentation of state budget, has previously been accused of prioritising the lives of cows over humans.

After the Bulandshahr violence on December 3 over the alleged slaughtering of cows that left a police inspector and a local youth dead, Adityanath had ordered action against those slaughtering cows, prompting the opposition parties to accuse him of being silent on the inspector's killing and questioned his priorities.

He had earlier suggested the construction of cow shelters in the state by local bodies through funds allocated for the government's flagship rural jobs scheme Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) or MLALAD funds.

The January 1 order issued to all senior administrative officials in districts directs them to immediately set up and run temporary cow shelters in the state.

Adityanath had earlier asked his officials to make 750 cows shelters at the zilla panchayat level functional. He said the state government has allotted Rs 10 crore to each of the 16 municipal corporations to arrange shelter for stray cows, while Rs 1.2 crore has been given to every district for setting up gaushalas.

Meanwhile on Thursday, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved a proposal seeking the establishment of Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog to conserve, protect and develop India's cattle population.

Here are the highlights of UP Budget 2019-20:

Rs 3194 crore for new Expressways - Rs 1094 crore for Purvanchal Expressway, Rs 1100 crore for Bundelkhand Expressway and Rs 1000 crore for the Gorakhpur Link Expressway.

36 new police stations - 7 new police lines in new districts. Rs 400 crore allocated. An additional Rs 204 crore for police reforms.

Rs 50 crore for reviving now defunct sugar mills.

More money for farmers - Rs 892 crore allocated to the National Agriculture Development Plan and Rs 450 crore for the National Crop Insurance Programme.

Rs 247.60 crore for building and running cow shelters in rural areas. Plan to build stray animals shelter in urban areas. Mathura to get a new dairy at the cost of Rs 56 crore.

Prime Minister's Housing Scheme gets Rs 6240 crore and Rs 3488 crore for MNREGA. Rs 2954 crore for National Rural Drinking Water Project.

One District One Product scheme will get Rs 250 crore. The Chief Minister Self-Employment scheme gets Rs 100 crore.

Rs 1298 crore has been allotted for Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme and Pradhan Mantri Matri Vandana Yojana another Rs 291 crore.

Rs 800 crore allocated for land acquisition for the international airport in Greater Noida’s Jewar. Rs 200 crore for the Ayodhya airport.

Both Kanpur and Agra Metro rail projects get Rs 175 crore each. A additional Rs 150 crore for feasibility studies for metro systems in Varanasi, Meerut, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj and Jhansi.

Rs 10 crore for Ayush University in the state and Rs 10 crore for a new university in Saharanpur. Mirzapur and Pratapgarh to have new engineering colleges.