Prompt action taken to curb bird flu: Gujarat Government tells High Court

State government along with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) filed a joint reply before the division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi, which had earlier issued notices to the authorities while hearing a set of two PILs related to bird flu scare in Memnagar area. The High Court has asked the petitioners to file their replies by January 23, when further hearing would take place.

These PILs were filed by 92-year-old Memnagar resident Bhagwatiben Brahmbhatt and by senior advocate Kiran Shah, who alleged laxity on part of administration. While hearing these PILs, the High Court directed the state government and AMC to file a reply by today about the preparedness of civic authorities to tackle the outbreak.

In it’s affidavit, the state government and AMC assured the court that authorities swung into action as soon as blood sample reports of some of the birds, kept at the rescue centre, came positive for bird flu on January 12. Government stated that a notification was issued on the same day declaring 1 kilometre area surrounding the centre, run by Sarva Dharma Seva Trust, as ‘Affected Zone’. Apart from culling and disposing birds kept at the centre, chicken shops in the affected zone were asked to remain close.