Chandigarh, September 13:
The Group of Ministers (GoM), closely gauging the ongoing relief work to control the Lumpy Skin disease (LSD) in the state, on Tuesday urged the union government to include this disease in the National Animal Disease Control Programme.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema asked Animal Husbandry Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar to seek an early appointment from Union Animal Husbandry Minister Mr. Parshotam Rupala to raise the issue of including LSD in the National Animal Disease Control Programme, while adding that in view of the prevalence of LSD in most of the northern states and the possibility of recurrence of this disease year after year, vaccination against this disease should be made free on the lines of diseases like Foot & Mouth and Brucellosis etc.
During the review meeting of LSD prevention relief works here at Punjab Bhawan, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and Animal Husbandry Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar were apprised that out of total 10.2 lakh doses of Goat Pox vaccine procured at a cost of over Rs.1.5 crore, around 9.10 lakh doses were administered to cattle so far, while 1.10 lakh doses are available with the department. Apart from this, Rs.1.32 crore has been disbursed for procuring other medicines and equipment for the prevention of the disease.
Replying to the query of Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, the officials said that cattle of more than 1.45 lakh livestock farmers have been treated free of cost so far besides vaccinating every cattle in all the Gaushalas of the state.
Meanwhile, the GoM led by the Finance Minister directed to ensure the vaccination of cattle kept in large numbers by the various religious institutions, commercial dairy farmers, Gujjar communities and others people in the second phase. The Ministers also asked the Principal Secretary Animal Husbandry to coordinate with the MD Milkfed for ensuring vaccination of animals of dairy farmers registered with the institution.
On the input of experts from Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana that the effect of Goat Pox vaccine lasts nearly one year, the Cabinet Ministers instructed that booster-dose and next vaccination campaign shall be conducted during the month of February next year to prevent the recurrence of LSD.
Taking serious note of the expiry of 19,150 doses of Hemorrhagic septicemia (HS) vaccine in district Pathankot, which were lying unused intentionally, the Ministers directed the Animal Husbandry department to issue show cause notices to the erring employees and officials. They said that at the time when the livestock needed special care due to threat of deadly disease like LSD, the negligence and irresponsibility shown by the employees shall not be tolerated at any cost. The Cabinet Ministers asked the Principal Secretary that accountability must be fixed in such cases.
The Ministers directed to complete the target of vaccination against Foot & Mouth Disease and Hemorrhagic septicemia by 30 September and 15 October, respectively. During the meeting, it was also discussed that the ban on cattle fairs and inter-state movement of cattle will be continued till further orders.
Mr. Vikas Pratap, Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry Department informed that 1,08,605 animals have recovered from LSD in the state.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Finance Commissioner Rural Development & Panchayats K. Siva Prasad, Joint Secretary Animal Husbandry Skatar Singh Ball, Director Animal Husbandry Dr. Subhash Chander Goel, Dr. YPS Malik on behalf of Vice Chancellor, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana and Dr. SPS Ghuman, Dean of Veterinary Science College.
Discussions
Discussions
