Saturday, December 27, 2008

Bird flu: Ban orders in border villages

First Published: 27 Dec 2008 10:10:00 AM IST
Last Updated: 27 Dec 2008 12:52:30 PM IST

BALASORE: Perturbed over illegal transportation of poultry and its products from neighbouring West Bengal, the Balasore district administration has clamped CrPC Section 144 in 72 border villages to prevent illegal import of poultry consignment.

‘‘We have imposed the prohibitory orders to prevent entry of smuggled chickens and eggs into Orissa through Balasore route. The Section 144 will be in force till the end of February,’’ Collector Alekh Chandra Padhiary said Friday adding that the immunisation of the live birds in the district was on.

Within a fortnight over 5,000 chicks, transported illegally, have been seized in the district and destroyed by the police and veterinary officials.

‘‘The chicks were traced from separate vehicles after some people sneaked into the district with the stock from the neighbouring state. The chicks however have been culled,’’ said Chief District Veterinary Officer (CDVO) RK Dutta.

Balasore has 1,74,497 birds, including 21,297 chicks. Of them 15,100 birds have been vaccinated, he added. Prohibitory order has been imposed in border blocks of Bhogarai and Jaleswar in the district following reports of the dreaded bird flu spreading its wings in more areas of WB. The administration has also tightened security at the fishing harbours to prevent smuggling of affected chickens and poultry products to Orissa through sea routes.

The administration is, in fact, leaving no stone unturned from taking preventive measures. While police personnel have been deployed at railway stations and bus stands, elected people’s representatives, teachers, anganwadi workers and forest officials have been asked to stay alert. ‘‘We have identified 15 border routes where temporary check-posts have been set-up and policemen deployed,’’ said a senior police official.

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