Punjab Government on Wednesday announced to set up a Group of Ministers (GoM) for effective monitoring and control of the lumpy skin disease amongst animals in the State on a day-to-day basis. Besides, the Government has also announced to launch a massive vaccination drive across the State.
To further check the spread of the disease, the Government has also decided to seal the inter-state borders to check the entry of animals from other states. In addition, the Government has also imposed a ban on the cattle fairs across the State.
The decisions were taken during a high-level review meeting, presided over by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday afternoon.
The Chief Minister said that the GoM would comprise Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, and Animal Husbandry Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar. They will be assisted by senior officers, experts of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), and officers of the state’s Animal Husbandry Department.
“The GoM will review the situation arising out of the disease on a daily basis and take the necessary action for checking it,” said Mann, adding that the State Government is duty bound to safeguard the interests of the cattle owners in the state.
Announcing to launch a massive vaccination drive to save the animals from the disease, Mann said that the vaccination will be given to the animals “free of cost” and there is no dearth of funds for the same.
Mann unequivocally said that the best recommended medicine by the Government of India (GoI) has been brought for the purpose; and more vaccination, if required, will be airlifted.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is duly focusing on preventing and tackling this disease. “Cattle wealth is an integral part of state’s economy and Punjab Government will take every step for ensuring that animals don’t fell prey to this disease,” said Mann while assuring fulsome support and cooperation to cattle owners for the purpose.
Also announcing that the State Government has sealed the state borders for checking the entry of animals from other states into Punjab, the Chief Minister said that the districts of Fazilka, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Bathinda, and Tarn Taran have been hitherto worst-affected by the disease which reflects that the disease has been transmitted from other states. “So, it is imperative to seal the state borders for checking the further spread of disease,” he added.