Post bird flu situation reviewed, more fund sought

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 14: Though the state government has lifted the ban on trading and transportation of chickens the prohibitory order will continue in two blocks in Cooch Behar district till issuing of further order. These two blocks are Dinhata-I and Mathabhanga-I.

 

Samples collected from a few villages of the two blocks were tested positive of bird flu virus and massive culling drive was held in those villages. Officials of the animal resources development department however commented that the ban has no implication in the areas concerned because after the culling drive there are no backyard birds in those villages.

 

Meanwhile, state ARD minister Mr Anisur Rahman and health minister Mr Suryakanta Mishra reviewed the post bird flu situation through a videoconference on Wednesday. Cooch Behar ADM (Development) Mr Pannalal Mahapatra, CMOH Dr Sunil Kumar Shil and ARD deputy director Dr Tapan Kumar Roy participated in the conference.

 

Awareness about the ban on trading and transportation of chickens in bird flu affected areas, lifting of the ban in remaining areas, speedy enlistment of villagers whose birds were culled or died from bird flu and other related topics were discussed during the videoconference, the ARD deputy director Dr Tapan Kumar Roy said.

 

Cooch Behar ADM (D) Mr Pannalal Mahapatra said they asked for an additional fund of Rs 24-lakh from the government. Earlier, they had received Rs 50-lakh to combat the bird flu situation in Cooch Behar district.

 

The district administration had to spend a huge sum to pay wage to the labourers that were recruited to assist the culling teams, renting of cars, paying the drivers, buying of fuel, hospitality cost for the observers and experts who came to supervise the progress of culling drive and cost to maintain the members of the culling teams during quarantine period. The additional fund was asked for to meet these expenditures, the ADM (D) said.

 

Mr Mahapatra claimed that they had paid Rs 40 per culled chicken on the spot soon after culling. The total sum paid as compensation was Rs 26,49,970 and it was not included in the expenditure report as was submitted to the government, he added. []