Nothing, not even the bird flu scare deters the Bhopal residents from relishing their favorite chicken. With the reduction in the chicken prices, the people, specifically in the old quarters of the city , are enjoying a royal feast of chicken.
'No doubt, the sale of chickens has gone down drastically in the upmarket areas of the city, but in other areas, it has increased manifold,' said poultry merchant Hilal Jafri. Ali, who resides in the Budhwara locality of the old quarters, said: 'A kilogram of bhindi (okra) costs Rs.40, whereas a kilogramme of chicken costs only Rs.20.''The government is saying that chicken, if cooked properly, can be eaten. So why should not I eat chicken when it is cheaper than vegetables,' said Ikran Ali, who has been eating chicken nearly every day.
Till date, no case of avian influenza or bird flu has come to light in Madhya Pradesh. But as cases of bird flu were detected in Maharashtra in February, the city also shot to limelight, as it houses the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL), the only laboratory in Asia that can detect bird flu.
But the Bhopal residents seem to have no issues with bird flu, as it has brought down chicken prices.
Edited IANS
