The day-long showers and chilly wind would have been a blessing for non-vegetarian food lovers, who were stuck in their homes on Thursday, which was also a holiday for Kannada Rajyotsava, if there had been no fear of bird flu in the state.
The rumours of the spread of bird flu at Hesaragatta in Bangalore, has created a fear among lovers of chicken delicacies — making them to think twice before buying the fowls or even consuming them at restaurants.
There were reports in a section of the media that the price of chicken was slashed and sold at Rs 40 plus per kilogram, which was found to be untrue. Some of the poultry shop owners denied that the price of chicken has dipped to 50 per cent.
It has remained at Rs 80 on Wednesday and Thursday, which was earlier sold at Rs 110. The bird flu, which was reported in February 2006 creating fear has resurfaced after six years in the month of October, causing anxiety among the public.
However, M P Satish Babu, zonal chairman of National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC), ruled out that there was a sharp decline in the sales of chicken and eggs in city. Speaking to Deccan Herald, he said: “There is no such dip in sales and the prices too have not come down. Overall, there may be a decline in 15-20 per cent in sales and consumption, that is due to fear.”
The actual problem is not the decreasing sales but the government of Kerala banning purchase of eggs from Karnaaka. Kerala is the main buyer of eggs from the state and the ban will only have an impact on the poultry industry and the reduction in sales is negligible.
A meeting was held with the animal husbandry minister Revu Naik Belamagi and principal secretary to take measures to solve the problem. Talks were also held with the counterparts in Kerala, who have assured to lift the ban in a couple of days, he said. It is necessary to clarify that eating chicken will not have any impact on the health of humans as there are no incidences of death due to bird flu in the state.
He said people can consume chicken after proper cleaning and fully cooking as the Centre has banned transportaion of poultry from Hesaragatta.
