HT Correspondent. 

MANGALDAI, July 13: State agriculture, animal husbandry, and veterinary minister Atul Bora on Tuesday visited Akalibari of Darrang district to take stock of the pig farmers in the area due to the African Swine Fever. Significantly, more than 200 domestic pigs have been reportedly infected in the different parts of the district in the last few days. As per official records, only 40 domestic pigs were killed to stop the spread of the deadliest virus at Akalibari. Additionally, including Akalibari, the villages Bahjani and Barampur are also declared an infected zone by the animal husbandry and veterinary department and banned slaughter, sale, and consumption of pork from these areas for three months.

Earlier, on July 10, the central committee of the Assam Pig Farmers Association visited the infected area of the district and demanded strict implementation of the government of India’s action plan in this regard. They also urged the state government to release the compensation funds to the affected farmers immediately.

Addressing the pig farmers, minister Atul Bora said that the financial compensation against the domestic pigs which were killed by the department will be given shortly. He also advised the farmers to take utmost care to stop the spread of AFS and to abide by the departmental directions. About the drastic rise in the prices of urea in the district, he said that the inquiry against the malpractitioners has been initiated and the government will take bold steps to check such black marketing.