Guj HC issues notice to two NGOs on bird flu in city locality

The Gujarat High Court today issued notice to two NGOs on a PIL seeking action against those responsible for the outbreak of bird flu in the city's Memnagar locality, while directing the state government and city civic body to file an affidavit in the matter on Friday.
A division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi issued notices to NGOs Sarva Dharma Rakshak Seva Trust and Asha Foundation after the PIL questioned the authority of these NGOs to transport affected birds from Mumbai, and action of culling and burying around 230 affected birds in Memnagar area.

The court tagged this PIL with another one filed on the same issue yesterday, and kept the matter for further hearing on Friday.
The PIL, filed by one Kiran Shah, questioned laxity on part of district administration and claimed that World Health Organisation guidelines have not been followed in preventing the outbreak of the disease.
It said over 1400 birds were transported by Asha Foundation and kept at a facility of Sarva Dharma Trust in the locality without proper licencing and authority, and said notification issued by the police commissioner preventing traffic and public movement in affected area was not sufficiently publicised.

The PIL has sought identification of persons responsible for bringing affected birds in the locality and action against them by way of penalty for causing hardship to local residents.

It also sought court's direction to the government to frame rules and regulation on transportation of birds through licence and permit.
The high court had yesterday asked state government and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to furnish on affidavit action plan followed to tackle bird flu reported at Memnagar locality in the city and steps they plan to take to prevent its outbreak in future.
The PIL filed yesterday said no order has been issued directing schools and garden in the area and adjoining areas to close, while danger sign in the area along with presence of police personnel have scared people, affecting their daily life.