APP govt in Punjab effectively dealt with lumpy skin disease in cattle, claims Laljit Bhullar
Mohali, December 31: Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government had effectively dealt with infectious lumpy skin disease prevalent among cattle in the state, claimed Animal Husbandry Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar on Saturday.
He said while the government had formed the Group of Ministers (GoM) to closely gauge the current situation and planning future strategies to prevent a revival of lumpy skin disease in the state, necessary vaccines and medicines were immediately ordered and dedicated teams were formed to provide treatment at the grassroots level.
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The Punjab Government, led by Bhagwant Mann, has also decided to start a mega vaccination drive from February 15, 2023, he added.
Animal Husbandry Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said 10 lakh doses of goat pox vaccine worth Rs 1.54 crore were airlifted to check the spread of the disease and medicines worth Rs 1.37 crore had been provided for the treatment of cattle across the state. He said around 9.5 lakh cattle were vaccinated with goat pox.
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The GoM, comprising Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and Animal Husbandry Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, had directed officials of the Animal Husbandry Department to start the vaccination drive from February 15, 2023, and vaccinate the entire 25 lakh cattle population in the state by April 30, 2023.
They also directed officials to immediately initiate the process for procuring about 25 lakh doses at cost effective prices from the Veterinary Biological and Research Institute, Hyderabad (Telangana). The Cabinet ministers formed a seven-member committee to decide the need of vaccinating buffaloes with goat pox vaccine.
The officials were also directed to launch an awareness campaign to sensitise farmers, especially dairy farmers of the state, regarding the prevention of deadly diseases in the livestock so that they could opt for the precautionary measures at an early stage.
He said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had doubled the posts of veterinary officers (VOs) to 418 in the Animal Husbandry Department.
Animal Husbandry Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said, "As many as 353 posts of veterinary officers in the department were reduced to 200 by the previous Congress government and we immediately considered the case and increased the posts from 200 to 418. The recruitment process for the posts of VOs has been completed through the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) and the appointment letters will be given soon to the eligible candidates."
- PTC NEWS
