Milk procurement from affected areas halted in Visakhapatnam

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) and the animal husbandry department have halted milk procurement for now. Procurement will resume only after the condition of milch animals in RR Venkatapuram and other areas affected by the styrene leak is assessed, officials informed on Saturday.
Officials of the animal husbandry department said that 930 milch animals— mainly cows and buffaloes— have been identified in the RR Venkatapuram area and the Panchagrama and the department has completely stopped milk procurement from these areas.
D Ramakrishna, joint director, agriculture said, “The condition of the animals is being studied. Blood and milk samples have been taken from animals of ward number 66. Moreover, 12 veterinarian teams have been constituted to study the impact of the gas leak on animals.”
GVMC sources informed that the samples that have been taken so far have turned out to be safe. But they maintained that no chances would be taken as far as milk supply was concerned.
With regard to other livestock, officials said that 22 goats and some sheep have been found outside the radius of the affected area.
The LG Polymers plant is situated quite close to the Meghadrigedda reservoir. In summer, many are found fishing at the reservoir, although officials maintain that there’s no authorised fishing community there or any large-scale operation.
K Phani Prakash, joint director of in-land fisheries said, “We have issued advisory dissuading locals from indulging in any fishing from the reservoir.” He added that GVMC has already halted drinking water supply from the reservoir.
“Water pumping from Meghadrigedda has stopped and a large team of veterinarians are studying the health of animals. We are also taking stock of complaints from the public,” KSLG Sastry , GVMC medical officer said.