Date:07/11/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/11/07/stories/2009110756300500.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Poultry farmers allege harassment

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Poultry Farmers Welfare Association has charged the grama panchayats with closing down poultry farms with the help of the Pollution Control Board on the basis of false complaints about dirtying of surroundings.

Pattom Sasidharan, president, and Vellanad Mohanan, secretary, on Friday alleged that the move was to help the big lobbies which brought chicken to Kerala from other States.

The farms which had been served closure orders included one which reared the chicks of the Poultry Development Corporation and another run by a women self-help group, both of which had the approval of the Pollution Control Board.