THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State government has come up with norms for compensation package to be paid to poultry farmers following massive culling of farm birds after detecting bird flu. It was decided to compensate the farmers like last time, and the subsequent decision was taken on the cabinet meeting.

It was decided to pay Rs 200 for birds more than two years old, Rs 100 for those birds which are below two months and five rupees each for every egg to be destroyed.

Meanwhile, the farmers hold the view that the compensation is insufficient. They also told that the government have only revamped the package given in 2016. Ten days observation will be put in place, where birds were culled on a massive scale. It has been decided to test the samples from these places again. Minister K Raju has said that special instructions have been given to collectors of Kottayam and Alappuzha districts to take necessary measures in the wake of a pandemic situation and also to take subsequent steps to prevent further spread of the disease.

Meanwhile, the centre has also intervened to prevent the rapid transmission of the disease. Centre has opened control room to coordinate the bird flu prevention activities in four states including Kerala.