KOLKATA, Feb 3 (NNN-PTI) — Mopping up operation was in progress in most of the 13 Bird flu affected districts of West Bengal state Sunday with culling almost over, as different figures were being given for poultry destroyed so far.
Animal Resources Development Minister Anisur Rahaman told PTI in Berhampore that 27 lakh birds had been culled and the remaining one lakh would be destroyed by today (Sunday). One Lakh:100,000
The Secretary of his department, D Chakraborty said here that a little over 29 lakh birds were culled and the remaining would be completed Monday as per instructions by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
“We have instructed the district authorities to complete the culling operations by Monday or day after,” he said.
Chakraborty said culling remained to be done in 35 ‘mouzas’ (revenue districts) in East Midnapore, Chanditola in Hooghly and some villages in the North Bengal district of Cooch Behar.
With the mopping up drive taken up in the districts steps are being taken to sanitise areas to prevent the recurrence of the disease.
Rahaman said after the culling, all measures would be taken to disinfect coops, residences of poultry owners and their neighbourhoods.
A comprehensive list was being prepared to identify people whose poultry had perished or been culled so that it would be easier to pay compensation.
Following reports of culling teams leaving without undergoing the mandatory quarantine in Murshidabad and Birbhum districts, the Union Health Ministry has directed the state government to call back the cullers for quarantine and checks. – NNN-PTI