Steps have been initiated to feed the birds abandoned by the emu farms in the State, said T.K.M.Chinnayya, Minister for Animal Husbandry, in Tiruchi on Saturday.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, he pointed out, has ordered animal husbandry department to arrange for feeding the abandoned birds.
The Minister also disclosed that 5,000 cows and 2.60 lakh goats have been given to beneficiaries in the State during the current year. So far, four lakh goats have been given to one lakh beneficiaries. During 2011-12, 12,000 beneficiaries were given free cows. Mr.Chinnayya said Aavin was procuring milk from beneficiaries who were given free cows.
The Minister said that 19 new veterinary dispensaries were coming up in Tiruchi district. Construction of dispensary buildings was nearing completion at 13 places and they would be opened by the end of September. The other six dispensaries would be opened before the end of the year, he said after inspecting the progress on the construction of a dispensary at Navalurkuttapattu sanctioned at a cost of Rs.26.66 lakh.
N.R.Sivapathi, Minister for School Education, Youth Welfare and Sports, P.Kumar, MP, Dharmendra Pratap Yadav, Commissioner, Animal Husbandry, Jayashree Muralidharan, Collector, R.Manoharan, T.P. Poonatchi, R.Chandrasekar and T.Indira Gandhi, MLAs, and I.Chinnadurai, Regional Joint Director, Animal Husbandry, accompanied Mr.Chinnayya.
Later, the Minister chaired a meeting with officials to review implementation of various schemes in the central districts.
