Shandy reopened after 38 yrs, shut again over FMD scare

Most of the shandies in Western districts were closed for more than a month, following F&M scare claiming the lives of several cattle, mainly in Erode district. The Thippampatti shandy was closed in 1980 following a dispute between cattle traders and local villagers. Instead, the cattle shandy began to function from Pollachi. 

Inaugurating the shandy at Thippampatti, Deputy Speaker Pollachi V Jayaraman said that arrangements will be made soon to supply water and provide police protection. “The reopening of the shandy will generate employment opportunities to local villagers. Only bovines that were not affected by F&M disease were brought to the shandy. All the animals were administered with vaccines to prevent the spread of the disease,” he said.  

A section of the cattle traders, who turned up with their animals, said that Pollachi shandy is fraught with space crunch due to ongoing UGD works and was finding it difficult to load and unload bovines in lorries. Since it is also located in the heart of the city, the traders tend to face traffic woes. 

While the Pollachi shandy will continue to function, the new shandy, located in sprawling four-acre area and water sources nearby has come as a boon to the disgruntled farmers. The cattle traders have decided to erect a fence and put up a shelter at the place. Even as traders were preparing for cattle sale, the Animal Husbandry Department officials cited closure of all shandies till December 31 and asked them to leave the spot. 

Meanwhile, Thendral Selvaraj, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Cattle Traders Association said that the new shandy does not have a veterinarian to issue certificates for animals sold in the shandy. “In the absence of a veterinary doctor, there is a possibility for cows from Thippampatti to be taken for butchering in neighbouring Kerala state,” he added.

State animal husbandry department has sounded an alert for cattle owners in Tamil Nadu warning prevalence of foot and mouth disease and has urged the farmers not to transport their cattle to markets. Weekly livestock markets including the famous Andhiyur market is closed. 

According to the animal husbandry officials surveillance of cattle in Western and southern parts of Tamil Nadu had been intensified. A senior veterinarian associated with Tamil Nadu Animal Husbandry department said, “The incidence of viral infections particularly the foot and mouth disease escalate during monsoon and there are symptoms of viral infections in cattle found in Erode, Tirupur and Salem. Based on the intelligence, the state has intensified the annual biosecurity measures in these districts.” 

“So far there is no mortality or any alarming situation, but the possibilities of viral transmission must be curtailed. As a preventive measure vaccination is already done covering 95 lakh cattle in TN, but the virus is capable of mutation so additional caution,” the official added.

However, no cases of foot and mouth or any viral infection is reported from Delta and southern districts. As a precautionary measure, the transport of cattle from other states is also restricted. According to Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University sources, “It is always better to take preventive measures before an epidemic outbreak. The disease can be cured through treatment, but they create a severe economic loss in terms of milk yielding.”