Statesman News Service
MALDA, Dec. 16: The Malda district administration started culling operations in the affected villages of Narhatta gram panchayat under English Bazaar block in Malda district amidst resistance from the villagers today.
Eighteen teams have been formed to cull an estimated 16,505 birds within 3 km radius from the epicenter, Satgharia village, where Bird Flu has resurfaced.
The culling teams, however, ran into trouble after villagers stopped them in the evening over payments. The Malda district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh, and the ADM (G) Mr PC Sit rushed to the areas and brought the situation under control by deploying civil defence volunteers instead of block officials to make spot payments. According to the DM, each of the 18 teams has eight members including animal resources department officials, civil defence volunteers, four labourers and a block official for spot payment against the birds culled.
“Police would protect the culling team members in case villagers’ resistance went out of hand in the 13 affected moujas under Norhatta gram panchayat,” the DM said. According to him, the culling operation is expected to be over Thursday.
The Malda SP, Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay, has instructed all police stations to set up patrolling at all entry points of the affected areas covering three km radius so that none can shift chickens during culling operation.
Dr Gopal Chandra Chakraborty, an expert from Kolkata, came here to supervise the culling operation and held a meeting with the district administrative officials today. A team of doctors has been kept ready to examine the health of culling team members before and after culling operation.
No comments:
Post a Comment