Avian flu control starts with police help

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Jan. 24: Despite villagers’ resistance the animal resources development officials started culling operations with the help of police in Chanchal block areas in northern part of Malda district this evening. A total of 40 teams, comprising five members in each team, have been deployed this afternoon from Chanchal sub divisional headquarters after medical check-up and training for all workers. A total of 320 local labourers have been engaged for culling. Eight labourers will assist each team. Due to shortage of veterinary doctors, one vet has been engaged for supervising five teams. “We have planned to collect “backyard chickens” from the houses in the evening and kill all of them late at night”, said Mr. NK Shit, deputy director, Malda animal resources development. The district administration has planned to cull all chickens and ducks being reared in the houses within four days. "We do not have planned to kill other birds at this moment”, said a veterinary doctor. A total of 41 moujas have been identified for culling operation within 5 km radius from the epicenter Mahaanadapur village in Chanchal block. The culling operation will cover Chanchal- I and Harishchandapur -I blocks in Malda district. A part of Katihar in Bihar and Itahar block in North Dinajpur district has come within the 5 km radius, administrative officials said. But till 4.30 pm ARD officials failed to collect chickens from the locals due to resistance in a village under Mokdumpur gram panchayat. Villagers are demanding more money as compensation before handing over their chickens for culling, supervising official said.Gram pachayat pradhan informed the local administration about the situation, fearing clash between the ARD officials and villagers, if the culling team resorted to force while collecting chickens from them. Police personnel have been deployed for the protection of the culling team. The Chanchal SDO given instructions for a deployment of police avoid things from getting out of hand. "Situation is now under control at Uttar Gopalpur. But villagers are resisting at Boroi and Bishnupur and other villages”, the SDO said. “We discussed the matter with the panchayat officials yesterday and appealed to them to hand over their poultry receiving the prices fixed by the government. We told them, we did not have liberty to increase or decrease the rate of compensation fixed by the government”, said Mr. Debasish Sarkar, the Chanchal SDO. The Chanchal SDO has received more death reports of chickens from neighbouring Harishchandrapur II block. “We have got reports of chicken deaths from various places. At least 30 to 50 chickens died in each area. We have informed the ARD officials to collect blood samples of the dead birds and send them to Bhopal for more confirmation”, Mr. Debashis Sarkar, Chanchal SDO, said. “Necessary action will be taken if it is found bird flu virus”, he added.