Sikkim lifts ban on poultry supply from outside for Army

Unable to ensure supply of chickens and eggs to Army units in Sikkim, the state government today said it would partially lift ban on supply of poultry products from outside for the men in uniform.

Unable to ensure supply of chickens and eggs to Army units in Sikkim, the state government today said it would partially lift ban on supply of poultry products from outside for the men in uniform.

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The decision to partly lift the ban was taken at a Cabinet meeting yesterday, Animal Husbandry Minister D N Takarpa told reporters here today.

However, the existing ban on poultry products for consumption of general public through retail outlets and markets will continue till further orders, he said.

Sikkim had banned the supply of poultry products from outside in December last year following the outbreak of bird flu in West Bengal. It had then contended that there was an adequate supply of chickens and eggs from the hatcheries within the state to meet the domestic demand, including those for the army units.

The prices of the poultry products had increased three times since the ban was imposed.

The local poultry producers, who had immensely benefited from the ban, are putting up pressure on the state government to continue with the restriction.

A boiler chicken in the state now costs Rs 150 per kg and egg Rs 8-10 a piece.