The Centre on Monday accused the West Bengal government of delaying 'appropriate action' in tackling the spread of bird flu.

The first incident was reported to the local government on January 4. They communicated it to us on January 11," agriculture minister Sharad Pawar [Images] said.

"However, by that time appropriate action was not taken and then it (avial influenza among birds) spread," he said.

The bird flu has spread from two districts in West Bengal initially to seven districts.