Amid fear of African Swine Fever cases in the state, a carcass of a pig suspected to have thrown into the Kakching-Sengmai river near Kha Manipur College was found on Thursday morning, after which deputy commissioner Kakching Somorjit Salam issued an order, stating that any person found to be carrying out such improper disposal will be dealt and punished as per law.
Such an act is a criminal offence under the ‘Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009’ and is likely to cause health hazards, stated the order.
As provided under the ‘Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009,’ whoever places or causes or permits to be placed in any Rivers, Lakes, Canals or any other water body, the carcass or any part of the carcass of any animal, which at the time of its death was known to be infected, will be guilty of an offence, it stated. On conviction, punishment will be served with imprisonment or fine, it added.
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Earlier on June 24, the DC had declared certain containment measures on the reports of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the district under Section 6 and 7 of the ‘Prevention and Control of Infection and Contagious Diseases in Animal Act, 2009’.
Meanwhile, locals have urged the authorities concerned to take up appropriate action against those involved in the incident as it has caused fear among the villagers who use the water for daily household activities.
In this regard, a press meet was held on Thursday at the office of Kakching Municipal council where caretaker chairperson Naorem Sanjitkumar expressed that many rely on the Sengmai river to run their daily lives. The water from the river is also used for consumption by the locals of Kakching and its surrounding areas, he said.
Kakching water supply and Keirak water supply schemes pump up the water from the river and further provides them to the general public, he added.
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He reminded that it is the common responsibility of all to keep the river clean and safe. It has been very unfortunate that carcasses of dead pigs were found in the river, he said. Such incidents of throwing wastes, hazardous and poisonous materials into the river are becoming frequent, he added.
He warned that legal actions can be taken up against such heinous activities and those involved are liable to punishment. If these actions are continued, then legal actions will be surely taken up, he asserted. He further announced that a reward of Rs 5,000 will be given to anyone who provides information of those behind the incident and in the future for similar incidents as well.
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It may be recalled that district administration Kakching, kakching Municipal council, JNGVO, AKSU and KKCL had earlier carried out a ‘Save Sengmai river’ drive, during which as many as 25 carcasses of dead pigs were fished out from the river in January 2021.
