: The State will become self-sufficient in anti-rabies vaccine production within three years, Minister for Forests, Animal Husbandry and Zoos K. Raju has said.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Animal Birth Control Centre of the Thrissur Corporation at Paravattani on Tuesday.
“Necessary steps are being taken at the Palode laboratory of the Animal Husbandry Department for the production of anti-rabies vaccine. Once the Rs. 62-crore project becomes functional, the State can even provide anti-rabies vaccine to other States,” he said. 24X7 service will be ensured at 20 veterinary hospitals in the State. In the initial stage, full-time service will be provided at two hospitals in Thrissur. Kaipamangalam panchayat in Thrissur district will be upgraded as a model panchayat in the sector of animal welfare.
Kerala will become self-sufficient in milk production in two years. Funds have been earmarked for that, the Minister said.
He said work on the Puthur Zoological Park would be started soon. Of the Rs.150 crore allotted in the budget, Rs. 15 crore will be given as advance.
Minister for Agriculture V.S. Sunil Kumar said a modern convention centre would come up in the city at an estimated cost of Rs. 40 crore once the current zoo is shifted to Puthur.
The Minister said a Rs.250-crore project has been envisaged to solve drinking water shortage in Thrissur.
The Thrissur Corporation has started a modern Animal Birth Control centre at Paravatti in association with the Animal Husbandry Department This is the first of its kind in the State, according to the Corporation sources. Mayor Ajitha Jayarajan presided over the function.
