Shillong, July 3: Following concerns over disease outbreaks and falling pig prices in the state, NPP Mawkynrew MLA Banteidor Lyngdoh on Thursday urged the state government to impose a temporary ban on the entry of pigs from outside Meghalaya.
Lyngdoh on Thursday raised the issue with Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister Sanbor Shullai who assured him that the matter would be taken up with the Chief Minister within two weeks.
“The Minister has given the assurance that a notification will be issued to impose a temporary ban for now,” he said. “We said that by all means, it should be banned for at least 3-4 months first, and then we will see how things are after that.”
He added that the issue had to be escalated beyond the department level.
“It is something very encouraging, and we will wait for these two weeks for it to be taken to the Chief Minister’s level, because the matter is a bit serious and cannot be resolved at the minister’s level alone,” Lyngdoh said.
According to Lyngdoh, pig rearers who earlier sold animals for ₹17,000 to ₹18,000 are now forced to sell at ₹11,000 or ₹10,000 due to disease outbreaks linked to pigs brought from outside.
“Livestock rearers themselves have expressed the same, because the spread of the disease in our State is due to pigs coming from outside,” he said. “Therefore, we strongly insist that, by all means, the entry of pigs from outside must be stopped for now and should not be allowed.”
Pushing for a ‘local for local’ approach, the MLA said the state should promote consumption of pigs reared within Meghalaya.
“Our desire, and mine as a representative, is that we need to adopt ‘local for local’, which means we should buy only pigs reared within our own State. If we try this, it will benefit the entire State,” he said.
Lyngdoh added that the discussion would continue, with the minister promising a thorough review.
