Experts review culling operation

Bipin Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 19

Experts from the Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RDDL), Jalandhar, who who carried out the culling operation at the island of Sukhna Lake, in collaboration with the the UT wildlife and Animal Husbandry Departments, have suggested closure of the water body for a month. The experts lead by Dr Vinay Mohan, Joint Director of the RDDL, today visited the lake and reviewed the culling operation carried out on Thursday night.

The experts also monitored a drive launched to disinfect the lake, especially the stair cases and the main entrances to the land banks. They also have advised that the authorities concerned to carry on fogging and spray lime power and other insecticides in and around the land apart from the jogging-tracks after every week. Lime powder and bleaching powder must be sprayed at the favourite spots of the birds and the visitors.

The wildlife officials were asked to keep a close watch on unnatural deaths of birds, if any, within 1-km radial distance from the outer crust of the lake and get them examined for the suspected diseases. Officials of the Animal Husbandry Department were asked to keep the area (1 km from the lake) under surveillance and take blood samples of birds in case of any unusual symptoms appearing in them. A visit by the Tribune team revealed that the entry to all roads leading to the lake was restricted since Thursday afternoon. The police have tightened security around the land. The lake continued to wear a deserted look for the second consecutive day today.