Goats to replace birds

Statesman News Service
MALDA, Feb 14:- The state animal resources development (ARD) minister Mr Anisur Rahaman today directed the deputy director of Malda ARD to rehabilitate families whose backyard poultry were culled, by supplying goat kids as an alternative way to make up their losses.

Attending a meeting with the Malda district officials here today Mr. Rahaman alerted the district officials and asked them to keep strict monitoring in Chanchal sub division so that Bird Flu hit families can not rear chickens within stipulated period after culling operation.

During the meeting the minister directed the ARD officials for necessary arrangement for supplying goat kids to them, including the self help groups, as alternative to chicken rearing.

Expressing satisfaction over the post Bird Flu control system the animal resources development minister today asked the Chanchal sub divisional official to be cautious before finalise the list of victim families for compensation.


The minister admitted that during culling operation several villagers tried to enlist their family name falsely to get compensation from the government.

Mr. Rahaman asked them to send the list of beneficiaries soon to seek fund for compensation.

“Enough funds for compensation are available”, he added.


Meanwhile, the state animal resources development minister today suggested stepping up vigilance along Indo-Bangla border to curb Bird Flu menace in the state.

During interaction with the ARD and district top officials regarding recent out break of Bird Flu the minister alerted the officials to keep restriction along the India-Bangladesh border so that none can carry chickens from the neighbouring country.

“We are apprehending that avian flu virus came from Bangladesh observing the trend of its out break in Birbhum. Many people in Nalhati and Rampurhat in Birbhum are connected with Bangladesh for illegal cattle trade and they frequently move to that country. We suspect that that virus came with them in Birbhum and spread its wings to other areas”, he said.

According to the minister, cause of avian flu outbreak in Malda may be either from drops of migratory bird or some one brought virus affected chickens there.

“We are fortunate enough that there is no report of human infection from Bird Flu. Had one human infection case detected here we (West Bengal government) would have blamed internationally for failing to control avian flu”, he disclosed during the meeting.