Culling of birds is on in the infected private poultry farm at Molkera in Humnabad in Bidar district. Officials say nearly 65 per cent of the work is over and the operations could end by Thursday noon. Culling was put off twice, on Wednesday and Tuesday evening, due to rain and subsequent power cuts. Zilla panchayat officials had to empty the water-filled pits using pumpsets on Wednesday morning before culling began.
“Work is slow. But everything is in place. We will finish it before Thursday noon,” a senior officer said.
ZP chief executive officer Pavan Kumar Malpati has said that workers who lost jobs due to the temporary closing of the farm would be employed in their villages under MNREGA. Health camps are also being organised in those villages to detect signs of infections and provide treatment.
Anurag Tewari, Deputy Commissioner, has said that native fowl in Molkera and surrounding areas will not be culled. They will, however, be monitored. A survey by veterinary officials has found farmers have 4,251 chicken in an area of one kilometre radius from the epicentre. All the birds are of native varieties. There are no big farms rearing exotic breeds within 20 km, that negates chances of the spread of infection, an officer said.
