Livestock inspectors stand like straw dolls like cows and poultry transporters enter Kerala unchecked.Cozy code

Koji Code: During tight pitch hours when heavy trucks occupy the highway, Shyam Kumar* armed with red flashing batons seek to spot vehicles carrying livestock and poultry.

Shyam Kumar is a Livestock Inspector at the Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of Kerala, stationed at the Karnataka-Kerala border in Kasaragod. “When they see me waving a red light, they step on it and run away,” he says.

Since April 1, pick-up trucks carrying broiler chicken from Karnataka have rarely stopped at checkpoints.

Speeding trucks are not only a financial loss to the government but also a potential health risk, said Jenson Varghese*, another livestock inspector stationed at Warrayar checkpoint in Palakkad district. increase.

Livestock inspectors are expected to monitor the movement of livestock and birds, check their health and inspect them at checkpoints to collect entry fees. “This is not the case at Kerala checkpoints as trucks rarely stop,” he said.

From April 1st, the Department of Animal Husbandry has imposed an entrance fee of Rs 1 per farm bird such as chickens, ducks and quails. He also raised the entry fee for cows from 50 to 75 rupees per cow. The entry fee for goats, sheep and pigs has been increased from Rs.60 to Rs.65.

The entry fee was imposed as part of the state government’s efforts to mobilize additional revenues and will be used by the sector to provide services and increase its production, according to a decree issued by Livestock Director A. Koushigan on March 31. will be

However, since April 1st, the entrance fee has dropped dramatically as trucks do not stop.

Officially, 37,604 broiler chickens were transported to Kerala through statewide checkpoints from 1-5 April. This he averages 7,521 birds per day.

During the same period of March, 1,65,172 broiler chickens were transported to Kerala. This is his daily average of 33,034 chickens per day.

From April 16th to 21st, the daily average increased to 30,654 birds. However, in the corresponding period in March, the number was 45,854.

An official who shared the data with Onmanorama.com said: “First of all, poultry transporters use a different route to enter Kerala, so these numbers are very low.

In Kasaragod, about five to six pick-ups carrying chickens leave Kerala through the checkpoint around 5pm and return after 1am, according to Shyam Kumar. “They know the livestock department has a checkpost here. They should stop and pay the entrance fee. But none of them stop,” he said.

Livestock inspectors have sent him several letters asking him to seek police help to enforce his orders. Told.

Secretary Koushigan did not answer calls to his office phone number.

Kasaragod, Walayar and Parasitical are the main entry points into Kerala for livestock, inspectors said.

Warrayal check post is not used for broiler transporters. Broilers enter Palakkad through Meenakshipuram and Gopalapuram checkpoints. Wallayah is used to bring chicks.

Wayalal is the main entry point for cattle for slaughter. “From Friday to Sunday, about 30 containers of his trucks full of cattle enter Kerala from Waraya,” said Mr Varghese.

Transports an average of 30 cows per container truck. “If they stop, we can collect about 350,000 rupees a year from cattle alone. But they overtake us on four-lane roads,” he said. He said 1,000 trucks may have stopped here.

Cattle from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are brought to Kerala mainly from Waraya. Cattle to be slaughtered from Karnataka are also transported first to Tamil Nadu and then from Waraya to Kerala. Transporters do not enter from Kasaragod, Shyam Kumar said.

Out of curiosity, Mr Varghese said he went to Perumpilavu, the largest cattle market in Kerala, on the border of Thrissur and Mallapuram. “Perumpilavu ​​market is Tuesday. About 20 containers he found trucks lined up,” he said. His Kuzhalmannam cattle market in Palakkad is Saturday.

About 80% of cattle are buffaloes. Cattle from these markets are transferred to small trucks and supplied to Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Wayanad.

According to federal livestock transport regulations under the Cruelty to Animals Act, transporters require a veterinarian’s certification that cattle and birds are fit for travel and free of infectious diseases, communicable diseases, and parasitic diseases. must carry a book. , and that they are vaccinated.

Livestock inspectors are responsible for checking these documents at checkposts. “They also have the authority to take samples and send them for testing to ensure food safety,” the official said.

Livestock vehicles rush away not only because they don’t want to pay the entrance fee but also because they may not have the certificate, he said.

Transport vehicles must have special tailboards and side pads, and non-slip flooring. “For all of this, he has one solution for transporters: cramming cattle into containers to prevent animals from falling or scraping against hard surfaces,” he said. I’m here. “In a way, it’s good for the animals because we can’t enforce the law.

Livestock inspectors said bulk buyers such as police camps, training academies, military centers and academies, CRPF camps, etc. require certificates and entry fee receipts, and at least poultry transporters stop at checkpoints. rice field. “Otherwise we are just standing with red batons in our hands,” Shyam Kumar said.
(*The name has been changed due to lack of permission to interview the media.)