Maharashtra government Wednesday said poultry owners of Jalgaon district would get Rs 40 as compensation for each bird culled by the authorities, following the outbreak of bird flu in four talukas of the district.

• Bird Flu Hits India

"The rate for each bird culled by the authorities would be Rs 40. There would be no deviation from our originally fixed price," State Animal Husbandry Minister Anees Ahmed told reporters.

He said that the criteria for giving the compensation would also remain the same as it was in the case of Navapur, where more than 2,00,000 chickens were culled following the outbreak of bird flu virus.

"Like in Navapur, here also we have decided to pay compensation to the poultry owners for the number of birds culled by the officials. Those culled by themselves will not be considered for payment," Ahmed said.

He added that the current outbreak of bird flu in Jalgaon "could be a stray case and not necessarily the condition of the entire state".