This was announced by the divisional commissioner Pradip Bhatnagar at a conference on promotion of organic farming and the cattle wealth of the Sri Krishna Land comprising parts of Agra district, Mathura, Vrindavan, Goverdhan, Barsana, Nandgaon, Gokul and Kosi.

Bhatnagar warned that the excessive use of chemical fertilisers was creating numerous health problems including the rising incidence of cancer cases, as in Punjab. "The Mathura district with a record number of private gaushalas, with more than a lakh cows, generating tons of cow dung manure which was not only safe but could help the soil regain its lost fertility, deserved to be promoted as a model zone of ecological balance and nature based sustainability." Bhatnagar said he would not only ban use of polythene in the district but also work on a plan to minimuse use of chemical fertilisers.

The conference was attended by gaushala owners, social activists and environmentalists who pleaded for drastic measures to integrate traditional cow economics with modern-day technology.

Goswami Sri Vats, an eminent spiritual leader said 'once the identity of Braj area was forests and cows. Both are under pressure of extinction."

Shravan Kumar Singh, of the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society warned of the dangers of 100 percent mechanisation of agriculture. ‘Agricultural operations now had no use for cows or bullocks as tractors, tube wells and thrashers with other mechanised agricultural implements were doing much of the farming work,’ Singh said.

Speakers said milk should be a component of mid-day meals. ‘This could be done if every rural government school had a couple of cows, as most schools in villages have ample space. The milk from cows could be used for mid-day meals.’

The divisional commissioner said he would shortly constitute a committee of activists, gaushala owners, environmentalists and departmental heads to suggest measures and monitor steps taken to transform Mathura district as a model of sustainable development based on cattle wealth and forest produce.