Jaipur, August 28: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has written to the Centre, demanding that the lumpy skin disease to cattle be declared a national calamity. The disease has impacted a large number of cattle, especially cows, in parts of the country, with Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan among the states hit by it.

Addressing cattle owners, public representatives and gaushala caretakers through online mode, the chief minister assured that there is no shortage of medicines to deal with the problem. According to a statement, Gehlot said he has written to the Centre that the problem be declared a national calamity and Union minister Parshottam Rupala has assured full cooperation to the state.

He said the animals dead with lumpy skin disease are being disposed of in a scientific manner so that the infection does not spread. Control rooms have been set in all districts and public awareness campaigns are being conducted to deal with misconceptions in the public about the disease, he said. Lumpy Skin Disease Affects Over 5,000 Cattle in West Uttar Pradesh.

State Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Lalchand Kataria said continuous monitoring of the situation is on in all districts for effective prevention of the disease. He said saving cow is the government's priority.

The minister said so far around 8 lakh cows have been infected, of which 7.40 lakh have been treated. The rate of infection is decreasing rapidly in western Rajasthan, Kataria said. Leader of the Opposition Gulab Chand Kataria and state BJP president Satish Poonia gave suggestions regarding the vaccination and disposal of dead animals.

According to the Animal Husbandry Department, till now 34,243 cattle have died due to the disease in the state. Earlier, Gehlot talked about heavy rainfall in the state and said food, shelter and other facilities were provided to people rendered homeless. Instructions have been given to deputy commissioners to assess the damage, he said.

The chief minister also directed the chief secretary to regularly monitor all arrangements, relief and rescue operations, and prepare a memorandum to be sent the Centre.

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