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Fifteen culling teams were sent to the state government’s poultry farm at Rabindranagar. Over 3,000 birds and 12,000 chicks will be culled. Apart from Malda town, culling operations will be conducted in English Bazar and neighbouring panchayat areas. “Only 15 teams were pressed into action today and tomorrow 40 teams will be deployed for the culling operation. Those conducting culling will be given enough Tamiflu tablets, protective gears and other materials,” said district deputy director of Animal Resource and Development Minister, Nikhil Sit.
He added that adequate compensation is being pr ovided to the affected families. “The district administration, panchayat and municipal authorities have initiated awareness campaigns among the public about a list of Do’s and Dont’s. Given that there is a festival tomorrow, we are trying to conduct checks to stop the consumption of chicken,” said Malda district magistrate Chittoranjan Das.
The district administration has also banned the sale, purchase and movement of poultry in the area. Though culling operations have been initiated, no human surveillance has begun in the district, as the state health department is yet to receive a copy of the notification issued by the Union government. Sources said that the notification was received by the state ARD but got delayed while passing it to the state health department.
In an interesting development, the district magistrate has expressed unhappiness over the culling of 20 birds at his own bungalow. “I have raised these birds and have developed an attachment to them. I am sad that they will be culled,” Das added. Meanwhile, the price of mutton have rocketed sky high in the district. The market price of mutton has jumped to Rs 200 per kg from Wednesday’s price of Rs 80.
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