By IANS,
Bhopal : Authorities in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore city Tuesday asked pig breeders to move out within a day in view of the deadly swine flu virus that has prompted strict screening of passengers at airports across India, officials said.
“Prompted by the swine flu scare, the Indore Municipal Corporation’s (IMC) health department has decided against gunning down pigs as contemplated earlier. It has also issued an advisory to hotels and marriage garden owners asking them not to stock imported pork,” said Rajendra Rathore, Mayor-in-Council (MiC) incharge of health department.
A 30-member IMC team headed by veterinarian Uttam Yadav and his assistant Veerendra Upadhyaya inspected pig breeding sites in the city including Pardesipura, Subhash Nagar and Badi Gwaltoli Monday and warned the piggery owners that their animals would be gunned down if they failed to move out.
“Health officials had earlier declared that they would shoot the animals belonging to piggeries but later it was decided to give the owners one final chance,” Rathore told IANS over phone.
“Moreover, we want to avoid killing the pigs as far as possible because it may lead to a big hue and cry and protests by animal rights activists,” said another official.
The IMC official also said that relocation notices would soon be issued to the 40 odd piggeries located within the city
There are an estimated 10,000 pigs in Indore.