Amid the growing concern over the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), the district administration has asked the local bodies to tighten the village-level vigilance mechanism and strictly prevent inter-district transportation of livestock afflicted with the disease.
A district-level committee constituted under the supervision of District Collector C.A. Latha will look into the issue and take legal measures to prevent the trade of unhealthy cattle.
Deputy Collector P.V. Gangadharan, who coordinates the preventive measures in the district, said the government has already announced compensation to all farmers who suffered loss in the outbreak of the disease. “As per the Government Order, a farmer would get compensation up to Rs.20,000,” he added.
The Deputy Collector also said that the panchayat-level meetings would be convened shortly to discuss the effective action plans. The officials of the Animal Husbandry Department would steer the programme. “The district –level review meeting held here on Wednesday, has given all the necessary direction to the officials of various departments to support the drive,” he added.
Check-posts As per the decisions of the meeting, checking has been strengthened at all commercial check-posts in the district. Transportation of livestock to other districts will be prevented strictly till the disease is totally brought under control. Also, the slaughterhouses will be brought under close monitoring.
According to officials from the Animal Husbandry Department, foot-and-mouth disease has been reported from 15 grama panchayats in the district.
Within the corporation limit too, a few cases have been reported. Mostly, the unvaccinated cattle have fallen victims as per the department report.
The direction on strict monitoring was issued by the State Animal Husbandry Department following reports that the farmers were secretly selling off the affected livestock.
As per the information received by the department, most of these animals had been sold to butchers within the State and outside.
