Sri Vijaya Puram, October 18: In view of the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) and the urgent need for coordinated interdepartmental action to prevent its further spread, the Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, has constituted District Task Forces with immediate effect in South Andaman, North and Middle Andaman and Nicobar districts, through a notification (F. No. A/72/2026-O/o JD(HQ)-AHVS_AN/2247).
Each District Task Force will be chaired by the Deputy Commissioner of the district concerned, with the Superintendent of Police, the Divisional Forest Officer(s), the Block Development Officer(s), the District Transport Officer or a representative of the Transport Department, a district-level officer or representative of the Tribal Welfare Department, a district-level officer or representative of the Health Department, the Executive Engineer(s) of APWD, and representatives of the Civil Aviation Department and the Directorate of Shipping Services as members. The Zonal Officer, AH&VS, or the Senior Veterinary Officer designated for the district will be the Member Secretary. The respective Heads of Departments shall nominate representatives wherever required, and the Chairman may co-opt other officers and representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions, Tribal Councils, local bodies and technical institutions as necessary.
The District Task Forces will prepare and implement district-specific action plans in accordance with the National Action Plan for Control, Containment and Eradication of African Swine Fever, specifying responsibilities, resources, operational arrangements and timelines. They will coordinate surveillance, identification of pig-rearing locations, maintenance of pig population and ownership records, and immediate reporting of suspected cases and unusual mortality to AH&VS for examination, sampling and necessary action.
The Task Forces will also ensure implementation of notified restrictions relating to the movement, transportation, sale and other regulated activities involving pigs, pork, pig products, feed and potentially contaminated materials, including at road, sea and air transit points. They will facilitate personnel, security, transport, machinery and other logistical support for disease investigation, authorised humane culling and related operations under the supervision of competent veterinary authorities.
For safe disposal and disinfection, the Task Forces will identify suitable sites and arrange resources for the safe disposal of carcasses and contaminated materials, including community deep burial pits wherever prescribed, in consultation with veterinary authorities and subject to applicable environmental requirements. Cleaning and disinfection of affected premises, vehicles and equipment shall also be ensured.
They will coordinate with Assistant Commissioners, Panchayats, Tribal Councils, village functionaries and other stakeholders for prompt reporting, field operations and community cooperation, and with the Forest Department regarding suspected disease or unusual mortality in wild pigs and preventive measures at the interface between domestic pigs and wildlife. They will disseminate clear advisories on biosecurity, disease reporting, notified restrictions and authorised disposal procedures, while preventing panic and misinformation, and will monitor compensation verification and documentation, resolve operational difficulties and promptly refer additional resource requirements to the Directorate of AH&VS.
The respective Deputy Commissioners may constitute island-level operational teams under the concerned Assistant Commissioner or an appropriate administrative officer, with the jurisdictional Senior Veterinary Officer or Veterinary Officer coordinating technical operations. These teams shall implement the directions of the District Task Force and submit regular action taken reports through the district reporting mechanism.
For areas within the jurisdiction of the Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council (SVPMC), prevention, control, containment and related field operations shall be undertaken separately through a Municipal Task Force under the chairmanship of the Secretary, SVPMC. The Municipal Task Force shall coordinate with the District Task Force, South Andaman, and the Department of AH&VS for veterinary guidance, enforcement support, resources, compensation verification and consolidated reporting. The Secretary, SVPMC, shall ensure deployment of municipal personnel, sanitation teams, vehicles and other necessary resources for these operations.
The Deputy Commissioners shall also notify Island-level Compensation Verification Teams for affected islands within their jurisdictions where Assistant Commissioners or senior officers of the administration are not posted. Each team will comprise the Tehsildar, Deputy Tehsildar or designated Revenue Officer as Chairman, with the jurisdictional Senior Veterinary Officer or Veterinary Officer and a representative of the BDO or local body concerned as members. For the municipal area, the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman, shall notify the Compensation Verification Team with a representative of SVPMC as the local body member, functioning in coordination with the Municipal Task Force.
The Compensation Verification Teams shall verify the ownership, number and identification particulars of pigs proposed for authorised culling and record the measurements or weight required for determining the prescribed carcass-weight classification. Verification is to be completed before culling, in coordination with the veterinary operational team, with authenticated records, photographs and acknowledgement of the owner maintained. The teams shall also verify and record the quantity of animal feed destroyed during authorised containment operations, maintain records of authorised culling and disposal, verify beneficiary bank account particulars and supporting documents, and submit recommendations to the respective Deputy Commissioner for processing eligible compensation claims.
Compensation for pigs culled and animal feed destroyed during authorised ASF containment operations shall be regulated strictly in accordance with Office Memorandum No. K-11053/8/2017-LH dated May 28, 2020, issued by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, and applicable subsequent amendments and orders. Compensation shall be assessed on the prescribed carcass-weight classification and applicable rates, and payment shall be made directly into the beneficiary’s bank account through RTGS or NEFT. Verification by the duly notified Compensation Verification Team shall be mandatory for processing compensation claims, and the Deputy Commissioners shall ensure timely deployment of these teams alongside veterinary operational teams so that verification and documentation do not delay containment operations.
The District Task Forces and the Municipal Task Force shall convene immediately and thereafter meet as frequently as required, maintaining proceedings, operational records and action taken reports. Daily situation reports during active outbreak operations shall be submitted to the Director, AH&VS, with a copy to the Secretary, AH&VS. Reports from the municipal area shall also be shared with the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman, for district-level consolidation, and urgent requirements and significant developments shall be reported immediately. All departments concerned shall extend necessary cooperation and assistance. The notification takes effect immediately and will remain in force until further orders, according to the Director (AH&VS), Andaman and Nicobar Administration.
