Lumpy Skin Disease alert issued; 100 pc vaccination ordered in Bilaspur

Bilaspur (HP), Jan 31: The Bilaspur district administration has issued an alert following reports of a possible outbreak of Lumpy Skin Disease among animals. Orders have been issued for 100 per cent vaccination of all animals in the district.
A meeting was organised by the Animal Husbandry Department at the Savings Building in the district headquarters to discuss the protection, rehabilitation, and safe shelter of stray animals roaming on roads. The meeting was chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner Bilaspur, Om Kant Thakur.
During the meeting, members involved in the operation of cow shelters were informed that, according to a forecast issued by the Central Government, there is a possibility of Lumpy Skin Disease spreading among cattle in Bilaspur district in the coming period.
Discussing the issue in detail, the Additional Deputy Commissioner directed officials to ensure 100 per cent vaccination across the district. The Animal Husbandry Department also appealed to all livestock owners to get their animals vaccinated in a timely manner, noting that an effective vaccine is available to prevent the disease.
The meeting was informed that at present, 14 cow shelters are fully functional in Bilaspur district, housing a total of 1,561 cattle. Of these, 1,325 cattle are receiving government assistance. During the meeting, cow shelter operators apprised the administration of their various demands and problems, with the primary concern being the timely release of assistance from the state government. The Additional Deputy Commissioner heard their grievances and assured them that necessary steps would be taken to resolve the issues.
It was also decided that a proper monthly and source-wise record of all stray animals rescued from roads would be maintained to effectively monitor their number, movement, and care.
The Additional Deputy Commissioner issued strict instructions to avoid any negligence in record maintenance. Directions were also given to immediately report the causes of animal deaths and to ensure post-mortem examinations where required, so that such incidents can be prevented in the future and accountability can be fixed.
The meeting further emphasised that concerned veterinary officers and panchayat representatives should conduct regular inspections to continuously monitor the health, fodder availability, and hygiene conditions of animals in cow shelters.
In addition, the effective implementation of the e-Gopal scheme was discussed. Officials were instructed to implement the scheme with complete transparency through the online portal to ensure livestock owners receive maximum benefits from digital services. Directions were also issued to ensure 100 per cent tagging of all animals housed in cow shelters to facilitate identification, tracking, and record management.