NALGONDA: The Nalgonda police have arrested Ramavath Rayamallu, a poultry farmer from Padamati Tanda village, after he was found responsible for dumping dead chickens infected with bird flu into the Akkampalli balancing reservoir. The incident has raised serious concerns about water contamination in the region.
Rayamallu was produced in a court at Devarakonda following his arrest. Special police teams, under the direction of Superintendent of Police Sharat Chandra Pawar, carried out inspections of poultry farms located near both the Akkampalli and Puttangandi reservoirs. At the same time, officials from the Animal Husbandry Department conducted inquiries to assess the impact of bird flu on local poultry farms and the disposal practices being followed.
The investigation revealed that Rayamallu’s farm had experienced a sudden and large-scale death of chickens due to bird flu over the past four days. In a state of panic, he transported the infected carcasses in a vehicle and illegally dumped them into a link canal between the Akkampalli and Puttangandi reservoirs late Thursday night, bypassing proper disposal methods advised by veterinary staff.
Rayamallu, who had approximately 7,000 chickens on his farm, failed to follow the required procedures for disposing of the infected birds safely. Despite being aware that the water from these reservoirs supplies drinking water to residents in Nalgonda and Hyderabad, he chose the quicker, illegal method of disposal.
The police have urged residents of the surrounding villages, including Pedda Adiserla Pally and Gudipalli mandals, to avoid dumping any toxic waste or remains into the reservoirs, as such actions can lead to contamination of the vital water supply.
Authorities have emphasized the importance of adhering to safe and proper disposal protocols, especially when handling dead animals affected by contagious diseases like bird flu, to ensure the safety and well-being of the community.