Culling teams face problems in Dinhata and Mathabhanga

 

COOCH BEHAR, Jan. 29: Twenty Rapid Response Teams (RRT) comprising of five members in each team started culling of domestic birds including chickens, ducks and pigeons in a few villages including Baro-Khalisamari village under Kursamari Gram Panchayat in Mathabhanga-I block from yesterday afternoon. Earlier it was planned that the culling will start from today but to complete the job speedily and to stop the spreading of the avian flu disease in newer areas the district administration differed the decision and ordered culling from yesterday afternoon. About 500 chickens were culled there yesterday.

 

The RRTs did their duties without any problem in most of the villages in Mathabhanga-I block but resistance came from local people at Sannyasir-danga village. In this village the locals pelted stones to the RRT men on yesterday evening. A vehicle was also damaged. The frightened RRT men had to go back to Mathabhanga-I block office without doing their scheduled jobs. A number of meetings were held from last night till this noon to chalk out plans to restore normalcy in the troubled village. Additional police forces were also deployed for the security of the RRT men.

 

It was decided that intensive awareness drive would be conducted among the residents of Sannyasir-danga village and after convincing the villagers about the need of the culling the work will be resumed. Several meetings were held today among officials concerned and leaders of different political parties, panchayat functionaries, representatives of non-government organisations and local people. But, no culling was held in this village today. It is expected that the RRTs may be able to resume work in this village from tomorrow morning.

 

On the otherhand, labourers recruited from the localities in Dinhata-I and Dinhata-II blocks denied to work since last night. They were recruited to assist the RRTs. As per government norms they were appointed against Rs 70 per day as unskilled labourers. But as they have had to work for about 12-hours they demanded Rs 200 per day. Today, the additional district magistrate (development) Mr Pannalal Mahapatra and other senior officials visited the area and assured of considering the demand for hike of wage. Getting assurance the labourers joined their duties and culling drive resumed. It may be mentioned here that about 43,300 chickens, ducks and pigeons were culled in Dinhata-I and Dinhata-II till last night. []