Fowl not fair with flu alarm in Manipur

Imphal, Aug 10: The Manipur Chief Secretary said the government will now start taking actions against those who do not voluntarily inform about their fowls.

Taking serious note of reports of poultry owners concealing live birds and not abiding by the instructions of Rapid Reaction Team (RRTs) for mopping up, the Chief Secretary has stated that the District Magistrates concerned may invoke the provisions under sections 143 and 144 CrPC and proper instructions be given to the District Police to take up necessary action under relevant laws so that the infected zone becomes free from any live domesticated bird.

Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh further said the presence of Avian Influenza in chicken was confirmed at Chingmeirong, Imphal East a notification was issued on July 25 and the Deputy Commissioners of Imphal East and Imphal West Districts were also given the responsibility for implementation and containment procedure.Moreover, the District Magistrates have been instructed to find out the provisions to penalise persons who may conceal the poultry birds.

Subsequently the control and containment operations of Avian Influenza started on July 26 and has reached the closing stages of Phase-II of mopping up, cleaning and disinfection of the affected zone within 5 kms radius from Chingmeirong from where the first report of outbreak of the disease came in.

The issue of sanitisation certificate by the state government requires complete mopping of poultry birds, products and feeds in the infected zones.

However, it is reported that a few poultry owners are concealing the live birds and do no abide by the instructions of RRTs for mopping up and even attempt to obstruct the duties of the RRT personnel, the CS said.

He said the District Magistrates may invoke the provisions under Section 143 and 144 CrPC and proper instructions be given to the District Police to take necessary actions under Section 188 of IPC and other relevant laws so that the infected zone becomes free from any live bird.

The Director, Veterinary, Th Dorendra informed that so far about 3,31,606 birds were culled so far and 28,107 eggs destroyed. Mopping operation began from August 3 and several teams of Rapid Reaction Team (RRTs) were deployed for mopping and culling operations to look for areas which were left out in the initial campaign.

Dr Th. Dorendro, Director of the Veterinary department said the culling exercise began after presence of Avian influenza was confirmed on July 25 afternoon at Chingmeirong, Imphal East. The government had decided to cull all chicken and duck within a radius of five km of Chingmeirong, Imphal East.

It may be noted that the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India had informed that Avian Influenza in poultry was reported from a small unit at Chingmeirong, Imphal East District, and the blood samples to High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) Bhopal and to the National Institute of Virology, (NIV) Pune for testing.

These samples were tested positive for H5 strain of Avian Influenza. The neighbouring states like Nagaland, Mizoram, Assam, Tripura had also taken up preventive measures in the wake of the confirmation of the deadly Avian Influenza in Manipur.

UNI