CEC Feroz Khan convenes meeting with regard to prevailing Foot and Mouth Disease among livestock in Kargil
Stresses on timely containment measures
KARGIL, JULY 10, 2021: Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC, Kargil Feroz Ahmad Khan today convened a meeting of the concerned officers to take stock of the situation due to the prevailing Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) among livestock in Kargil district.
Executive Councillor for Animal and Sheep Husbandry Aga Syed Hassan Arman Mosavi, Director Animal and Sheep Husbandry Ladakh Dr Muhammad Raza Abbasi, Chief Animal Husbandry Officer Kargil Dr Muhammad Ismail besides other concerned officers attended the meeting.
During the course of the meeting, the Chief Animal Husbandry Officer Kargil while apprising the CEC bout the current status of the disease in the district informed that it spread from migratory livestock that had entered into Ladakh after the opening up of the Zojila Pass. He further said that around 100 animals in the district have been reported to have fallen sick due to this disease so far and around 60 animals have died.
The Chief Animal Husbandry Officer further informed that 3 doctors of the department are on round the clock duty in the area spanning Meenamarg to Draupadi Kund, where the disease is currently on its peak.
Meanwhile, the Director Animal and Sheep Husbandry Ladakh said that the basic cause of spread of the disease is attributed to the lack of timely vaccination of the livestock. He informed the house that the animals were administered vaccines in the month of September-October,2020 under the National Animal Disease Control Programme which provided them with immunity from such diseases for a period of around 6 months.
The next date for the vaccination of these animals was in the month of March-April, 2021 which could not be administered in time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Director informed. He said that 2 lac vaccines have been procured and shall be administered to the livestock in Ladakh in a targeted manner with particular focus on FMD hard hit regions.
CEC Kargil directed the officers to ensure that the disease is contained well in time. He directed the departments of Animal and Sheep Husbandry Kargil to set up check posts.
In order to overcome the issue of feed for animals in the region, CEC Khan said that arrangement of funds shall be made in the upcoming budgets for arrangement of reserve feed and fodder banks in inaccessible and snowbound areas of Drass, Suru and Zanskar Valley. He further said that provision for compensation for the affected livestock owners will also be made in due course of time.
