By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The culling of bird-flu infected fowls within 3 km radius from the Government poultry farm in Williamnagar, East Garo Hills is expected to be completed by Wednesday.
“We will complete the culling operation in the remaining four villages within 3 km radius by Wednesday. We are carrying out this exercise as per the guidelines of the Union Government,” Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department director Dr L Lyngwa said on Tuesday.
He further informed that 3444 fowls and more than 1200 eggs were subjected to hygienic culling in East Garo Hills district, where the bird-flu broke out a week ago.
Meanwhile, East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Praveen Bakshi said Rs 75,300 has been given to the affected poultry farmers. While informing that the disbursement of the compensation is very slow since it started very late on Tuesday evening, Bakshi said the administration would resume the process on Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Bindo Mathew Lanong has said, “We have taken this decision to cull the birds within the 3 km radius from the Government poultry farm to ensure that the epidemic does not spread to other areas.”
Lanong, who also holds Animal Husbandry and Veterinary portfolio, said, “We have managed to make the farmers understand that the Government has taken this steps to safeguard their interests only.”
Meanwhile, he informed that the Government sent the report of the samples to Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) to find out the cause of the epidemic.
As per preliminary report, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “There are possibilities that this bird-flu outbreak is due to the contamination from migratory birds.”
When asked how much the Government is paying as compensation to the affected poultry farmers, he said that these things were being worked out.