Govt sleeps as lumpy skin disease spreads: Zulfikar

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Aug 24: Apni Party vice president and former minister, Ch Zulfikar Ali has appealed to the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to immediately constitute a Task Force to meet the challenge posed by fast spreading lumpy skin disease in Rajouri district as farmers have lost their cattle.
In a statement to the press, Ali expressed concerned over the irresponsible attitude of the authorities towards the spread of lumpy skin disease in Rajouri. “There is no doctor, medicine or vaccine to control the infectious disease. The farmers rearing cattle have suffered huge losses and the Govt seems to have no plans to compensate them,” he said.
Zulfikar said that the Govt must announce compensation to the farmers who have lost their cattle. “Many farmers who are dependent on the cattle rearing have suffered badly and they should be provided relief in the shape of medical aid and financial assistance,” he said, highlighting the concerns of the people.
He said that with the continuous deaths of the domestic cattle/dairy farm due to the uncontrollable lumpy skin disease and the emerging situation required personal immediate attention of the Lt Governor.
He demanded that the LG should constitute a Task Force, establish a control room and send medical teams in villages, hilly and remote areas of Rajouri district.