Bird flu spreads to crows in Kerala, uncontrollable situvation

NEW DELHI: Minister J Chinchu Rani expressed concern over the inability of authorities and existing machinery to control bird flu in the state. The minister said that bird flu cases were detected even in crows and demanded more central assistance to control bird flu. According to the minister, central funds from 2021 are still due. At a press conference in Delhi, Chinchu Rani estimated the total money to be received as Rs 6 crore 63 lakh.

The Minister met Union Minister of State for Dairy Development and Fisheries George Kurian at Krishi Bhavan and handed over a memorandum regarding the various needs of Kerala in the animal welfare and dairy sector. Chinchu Rani also demanded that Rs 6 crore 63 lakh be allocated as compensation to farmers whose chickens, ducks, and pigs have died of bird flu and African swine fever since 2002.

The Minister also demanded that the necessary central assistance be allocated for insuring cattle under the National Livestock Mission. Steps should be taken to ensure that the National Livestock Mission provides the amount requested by the state government in the financial year 2025-26 for the development of goats and pigs in the state. The Minister, in the presser, said that the Union Minister responded sympathetically to the needs of Kerala.