The decision was taken by the Group of Ministers (GoM) on Tuesday after carefully examining the ongoing relief efforts to control the Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in the state.
The GoM includes Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, and Animal Husbandry Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar.
The Animal Husbandry Department informed the GoM during the review meeting of LSD prevention relief activities that no new cases of Lumpy Skin disease had recently been reported in the state. Taking this into consideration, it was decided that the restriction on cattle fairs and interstate cattle transportation might be raised.
According to the spokesperson, "The GoM gave permission to hold cattle fairs and interstate cattle movement after reviewing the current situation, with a condition that the cattle involved in such activities should be vaccinated and the traders or the farmers should carry the vaccination certificate for the same with them."
The department was urged to issue new guidelines and assign veterinary doctors at cattle fairs. Ban was canceled on all the semen production stations, except the Nabha semen station's cattle semen unit, where a sample had tested positive for the disease.
In addition to keeping a close eye on these activities, the Ministers urged the Department to send veterinary doctors to cattle fairs so that, if a new case of LSD is recorded, immediate action would be taken.
LSD outbreak in Punjab
As per media reports, LSD claimed the lives of over 17000 head of cattle and has affected more than 1.70 lakh animals in Punjab.
Former Chairman of the Punjab Gau Seva Commission, Keemti Bhagat said the mortality of 50 -100 cows in several gaushalas went unnoticed.
Dr. Rampal Mittal, Nodal Officer for LSD agreed that the disease spread in stray cattle was a big concern. he said, “As a result, the Dept. of Animal Husbandry vaccinated all the animals in the gaushalas in three days.”
