<p>Order of the National Green Tribunal (Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata) in the matter of In Re: Unchecked cattle sheds on the opposite side of police outpost in Bidhannagar, dispute regarding its demolition
Culling of chicken which began in two blocks of Siliguri and one block of Kurseong in birdflu-affected Darjeeling district will continue for another two days, Darjeeling district magistrate Rajesh Pandey said. A total of 20,298 birds were culled in the blocks since May 10, he said. Few thousands were yet to be killed due to non-cooperation in a few villages, he said. It was decided at an emergency meeting on Wednesday that the mopping drive which began on Wednesday would also continue, officials said.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) might be trying to round up stray cattle as quickly as possible, but the problem of inadequate "police staff' during the operations remains. On Tuesday, yet another MCD inspector was roughed up by irate illegal dairy owners in Saraswati Vihar, making it the third incident where MCD officials had to face the wrath of the public. The civic agency has to submit a status report on controlling the cattle menace before the Delhi High Court by August.
Officials prepare for the burial of birds. (Kundan Yolmo) Residents of Sukna army cantonment and visitors to Madhuban Park and Umrao Singh Lake situated inside the military area will no longer be able to have a glimpse of a major attraction thanks to the outbreak of bird flu. Over 200 ducks, swan and geese, which inhabited these recreational sites, have been culled as the deadly disease was detected just 500m from the cantonment.
Animals used by the leather industry in India are transported to states where they can legally be killed. Forced to walk through the heat and dust for days without food or water, many of the animals collapse. Handlers pull the cattle by ropes through their noses and twist their necks, horns and tails or rub chilli peppers in their eyes in order to keep them moving.
Livestock and Dairy Development Board (LDDB) will launch a project costing Rs 2 billion to control highly infectious disease 'foot and mouth' that causes Rs 6 to 8 billion loss per annum. Chief Executive of the LDDB, Dr Muhammad Afzal revealed this while talking to Business Recorder here on Tuesday. LDDB Deputy Project Coordinator, Dr Naveed Niazi was also present.
See an injured animal or bird writhing in pain, just call up the newly launched Navkar Animal helpline and help will be on the way to treat them that too free of cost! On Sunday, Navkar Treatment Centre, in association with Mahendra Shrimali, an animal lover, launched a dedicated Navkar Animal Helpline in Ahmedabad for animals in distress.
Chicken has gone off the menu at many Siliguri homes with the Darjeeling district administration confirming bird flu in a village located just over 20km from the town. Culling operation in Poinikumari, the affected village, and areas within a 5km-radius started yesterday. "The team from the animal resource development department had culled 3,973 poultry birds yesterday. Another 7,000 are expected to be culled by 11pm today,' said Rajesh Pandey, the district magistrate of Darjeeling.
In the wake of outbreak of bird flu in the neighbouring States and countries, the Nagaland Government has banned import of all poultry products in the State. The State's Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department has cautioned the public and traders alike not to bring any poultry or its products from any State, including West Bengal, Asom and even Manipur, official sources here today said.
Stray cows in adjoining Sidhwan Khas air shelling range of the Indian Air Force (IAF) have been dying unnatural deaths. Villagers and IAF personnel on duty in the range, confirm the death of five cows a week. A visit to the range reveals several cows having been reduced to skeletons. Cows, chewing grass thrown inside the range boundary by concerned people from villages around, can be seen looking for meagre green with their snouts. "We often see stray dogs feasting on weak stray cattle and calves," Jagdev Singh, a farmer from Janetpura village said.
After four years of monitoring by the Supreme Court, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Tuesday said the modern Ghazipur abattoir, which has missed many a deadline, would be ready by May 20 but the apex court gave it an additional 10 days. Appearing for MCD, additional solicitor general Amarendra Saran informed a Bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhan, S B Sinha and A K Mathur that the project would be ready by May 20.
