Varanasi: In view of the bird flu scare, the district administration, on Monday, imposed ban on feeding migratory birds by the people enjoying boat ride in the Ganga. Meanwhile, Sonbhadra administration heaved a sigh of relief after Bhopal lab cleared that crows found dead on January 6 did not suffer from avian influenza.
In view of the advisory issued by the state government of closure of Kanpur zoo, the district magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma convened a meeting with the magistrates, officials of veterinary and forest departments at Rifle Club in afternoon. He asked to increase vigil to ensure that no migratory bird is fed by visitors. Apart from the river police, the Varanasi Municipal corporation authorities were also directed to ensure strict compliance of this ban. Officials in rural areas were also asked to keep sharp vigil on water bodies and canals, where the migratory birds stay.
The chief veterinary officer was asked to send veterinary officials and staff in fields for intensifying the process of sample collection from all chicken and mutton outlets in city and rural areas. The VMC was asked to verify the stock at 400 chicken and 250 mutton shops under its limits and ensure proper sanitation. The officials were also directed to increase awareness among traders. The DM said that each police station will keep phone numbers of veterinary officials to contact in case of emergency.
The block development officers were instructed to convene meeting with chicken and mutton sellers of their areas on Tuesday to make them aware about the guidelines and ask them to alert the veterinary officials immediately in case of deaths of birds or animals in mass.
The divisional forest officer informed the DM that round the clock monitoring of bird cages at Sarnath zoo has been started by deploying officials and staff. The DM also asked the CVO to carry out health check up drive in each and every Goshala (cow shelters), where arrangement for ailing and injured animals and measures for immediate disposal of dead animals should be made.
Officials were also asked to send all stray animals, venturing on highways or along railway tracks to the Goshalas.
Earlier, the CVO Sonbhadra AK Srivastava told TOI, “The test report of samples of dead crows sent to Bhopal laboratory has been received. The reports cleared that crows found dead in different areas of Chopan did not suffer from avian influenza following which it is considered that they would have died due to cold.” He said that following the detection of death of many crows on January 6, the additional director (veterinary) Dr Rajiv Gupta had also visited Dala area while three panel of doctors were formed to conduct postmortem examination of dead crows.
Patrolling was also carried out along Sone and other rivers. No bird was found dead there.