Despite advisory, chicken items still in demand in city

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 19

While the UT Administration completed exercise to cull 110 domesticated geese at the Sukhna Lake, there was no effect on the sale of chicken items at hotels, restaurants and meat shops.

As the Administration clarified that there was no need to panic, city residents continued to purchase and eat chicken items.

Ankit Gupta, president of the Chandigarh Hospitality Association, said as no outbreak of bird flu was declared by the Union Government and the UT Administration, therefore there was no need topanic. Sale of chicken items is going on as usual in Chandigarh hotels and restaurants, he said.

Sanjiv Bhatia, owner of Bhatia 2 Rasoi, Sector 40, said there was no dip in the sale of non-vegetarian foods. Today, there were more than 40 home deliveries of non-vegetarian food items. There is no panic among the city residents, he said.

Sandeep Sahni, president, Chandigarh Club, said so far they had not stopped serving non-vegetarian items but they would take a final call on the issue only after consulting UT Health Department officials.

They will also discuss the issue in the executive meeting of the club, he said.

Mohammad Wasim, a meat shop owner in Burail village, said they received supply of hens from Delhi. Moreover, there are no instructions from the UT Administration to stop the sale and purchase of poultry products, he said.

There are around 300 meat and chicken shops in Chandigarh. Besides, there are some restaurants in the city that are providing goose meat as well.

Officiating Deputy Commissioner-cum-MC Commissioner Vivek Partap Singh said there was no outbreak of bird flu therefore there was no need to panic.

The Administration hasonly issued an advisory to hotels, restaurants and meat shops, he said.

CITCO to face loss of Rs 1 crore

As the UT Administration on Friday banned entry to Sukhna Lake for one month, the Chandigarh Industrial & Tourism Development Corporation is all set to suffer a loss of nearly Rs1 crore. Sukhna Lake caters to almost 5,000 persons, including regular walkers and visitors, every day. Due to the complete shutdown for one month, the authorities are now facing the  biggest-ever loss since the creation of the spot.