Reconstruction of Tsunami-ravaged Veterinary Institutions in Andaman

Port Blair, Jan 10 (UNI) The reconstruction of the Veterinary Institutions and farms of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services in the Nicobar district, which were destroyed in the 2004 tsunami, were in progress and would be completed soon.

Official sources said here today that besides the Veterinary Institutions, composite livestock farms would be established at Car Nicobar, Nancowry and Campbell Bay to cater to the needs of local people and tribals, which were ravaged by the tsunami in 2004.

''These composite livestock farms will not only fulfill the requirement of livestock and poultry in these islands, but will also be the centres for providing training and demonstration on scientific livestock and poultry production practices,'' officials added.

In the aftermath of the tsunami, which had destroyed almost all the veterinary institutions and farms in most of the islands in the Nicobar district, all the animal husbandry activities had to be rejuvenated immediately in the temporary arrangements made in different islands for the tribals.

''To plan the future livestock health and production strategies specific to these islands, especially in the post-tsunami rebuilding phase, a systematic livestock survey was also conducted in the district recently,'' officials said in a press communique.

Meanwhile, systematic veterinary health camps had been organised in all villages wherein besides the regular treatments, deworming of animals and birds had also been taken up.

Under the zero-surveillance programmes against Swine Fever and Avian Influenza diseases, blood samples from pigs and chicken had been collected and sent to authorised Referral Laboratories in the mainland for laboratory confirmation.

Regular immunisation programmes had also been taken up against Swine Fever in pigs and Ranikhet Disease in poultry birds.

UNI SKR DPM RD 1417