Kozhikode: Licence-less pig farms mushroom

KOZHIKODE: The 11 pig farms functioning in Chakkittapara grama panchayat have no licence. The unhygienic pig farms may trigger water-borne diseases, according to a report submitted by the medical officer of Pannikkotoor primary health centre  at the Koyilandy taluk development samiti meeting. 

The issue was raised by Mr Rajan Varkey at the meeting. "According to the report, the health squad had inspected the farms on March 7 last year and found that none had licence. The farms were asked to shut down and resume operation after obtaining licence. But this was not done. The squad gave a report about it on March 28 to the grama panchayat secretary. But the panchayat did not take any action," alleged Mr Varkey. 

The farms are functioning in wards 1 to 8. The medical officer's report pointed out that many of these wards had reported water-borne diseases like diarrhoea and jaundice before. The feed for these pigs is the hotel waste from the various parts of the district, including Kozhikode city.

The dumping of the hotel wastes creates a foul smell in the area affecting the nearby residents. In spite of the violation, a new big farm is about to commence operation in ward 4. 

Chakkittapara grama panchayat president Sheeja Sashi said that a meeting to discuss the issue would be held on January 17.