PUNJAB AT ONE SIGHT
Face2News/Chandigarh/Patiala/Sangrur
The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department has dismissed a Deputy Director Rakesh Kumar Singla for wilfully concealing facts and gross negligence in discharge of official duty.
Disclosing this here today, the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak said that the abovesaid office violated the Punjab Civil Services Rules, 1970 by hiding the fact that he had acquired P.R. of Canada since 2006. The officer was charge sheeted in 2017 and the charges were proved on January 29, 2019.
Divulging further, the Minister said that the entire was minutely proved a retired Judge and an officer of the department. The Minister also mentioned that the abovesaid officer was provided a copy of the chargesheet but he didn't joined the probe. Hence, considering the circumstances, the said officer has been dismissed today.
PIG FARMERS NEED NOT PANIC
Punjab Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, on Saturday, said that the Punjab government will provide due compensation for culling pigs as per the policy of the union government. He said that the state government stood shoulder to shoulder with the pig farmers of the state. There is no need for them to panic.
“African Swine Fever (ASF) has been confirmed at two places in district Patiala and as per the guidelines of the GoI, it is necessary to cull pigs within the radius of one kilometer from the epicenter of the disease, otherwise this disease can be a fatal”, said the Cabinet Minister, adding that the mortality rate of this disease can be as high as 100 per cent and once a pig is affected, it dies within a few days.
The Minister said that compensation will be given only for the culling done by the department. He urged the pig farmers to cooperate with the department so that the spread of the disease can be stopped immediately. Under the policy, compensation for destroyed feed of pigs in the containment zone will also be given, he added.
The Cabinet Minister categorically said that ASF is non-zoonotic disease and does not infect human or other livestock species.
Divulging about the precautionary measures being taken by the department, the Animal Husbandry Minister informed that three veterinary officers have also been deputed in district Patiala to prevent further spread of the highly infectious and contagious disease “ASF”. Veterinary Officer Dr. Simrat Singh, Dr. Anand Kumar Jaiswal and Dr. Bhupinder Singh has been directed to report immediately at the office of the Deputy Director Animal Husbandry, Patiala.
