The state animal resources department is struggling to arrange the required manpower to carry out fresh culling and mop-up operations in three Bird Flu-affected districts. State ARD officials said fresh culling of chickens was ordered in Birbhum, Burdwan and Murshidabad after Central ARD officials found that many chickens were roaming in the notified areas even after the state announced completion of culling and disinfection operations in these areas. But the fresh process was ordered at a time when the authorities are struggling to set up the required number of rapid response teams as the majority of state government staff have been engaged in duties related to panchayat polls. "The department has realised the urgency of carrying out the process seriously this time. Though the concerned district magistrates have repeatedly expressed their helplessness owing to unavailability of manpower, the top brass of the department has made it clear that no lackadaisical attitude would be entertained this time,' said a senior official of the department. Officials also said according to the report submitted by the Central ARD teams deployed in these three districts, nearly 6,000 chickens have to be culled after the fresh notice was issued. "The Central teams have pointed out the houses and areas where chickens were left out during culling operation. But as chickens are located in different areas and in a scattered way, it would take some time. But to stop the spread of the virus, these chickens have to be culled as early as possible and unavailability of staff is certainly creating trouble,' an official said. When contacted, Mr Anisur Rahman, state ARD minister, said, "As only a handful of chickens would be culled this time, this won't be a problem. I have asked the concerned authorities to complete the process as early as possible.' Officials also expressed concern over the Central report where it has been observed that trading of chickens and poultry activities could not be banned properly.