Malda (WB), Dec 17: Culling resumed in the bird flu-affected areas of Malda district this morning after being hampered due to protests by poultry owners. The culling is being conducted at 13 affected mouzas of Englishbazar block in the district after out break of the avian influenza.Official sources said that the culling had begun last night itself after it remained suspended during the day as villagers were unwilling to give their chickens until compensation money was paid.
The district magistrate, Sreedhar Ghosh, said that Rs 40 lakh had been sanctioned as compensation for the villagers whose chickens would be killed. A total 16,000 birds would be culled over three days by 144 workers working in 18 teams.
Meanwhile, borders with Bangladesh and Assam have been sealed to stop entry of chickens and chicken products from that areas following the reports of bird flu there, West Bengal Animal Resource Development Minister Anisur Rahaman said at Baharampore in Murshidabad district.
A state-wide alert has also been sounded against the disease, he said.
Authorities have announced a hike in the rate of compensation to be paid to the poultry owners. The compensation for ducklings has been raised from Rs 10 to Rs 25. The poultry owners would be paid Rs 75 for each duck instead of earlier Rs 40 compensation.
The compensation for a full-grown chicken has been increased to Rs 50 from Rs 35, the minister said. Poultry owners would receive compensation also for the destroyed eggs and chicks, he said.
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