Poultry ban, on for far too long

GANGTOK, 21 Sept: It is amazing how a difference of just about 500 yards can make one immune to the effects of Avian Influenza. That is the distance between West Bengal and Sikkim separated by the bridge over the Rangpo khola at Rangpo, where, across the border on the Bengal side, a small sized industry dealing in the sale of chicks and eggs is thriving and on the Sikkim side of Rangpo, the irony of barren egg baskets and a handful of people making hay while the ban is on.
Sikkim is the only state in the entire country which seems to still be guarding against Bird Flu, the common name of Avian Influenza. The central government has already declared the entire country bird flu free, almost a year ago, but the state has not yet lifted the ban on the entry of poultry products and does not seem to be inclined to do so any time soon.
While the ban is being continued by the government in the name of bird flu it needs to be asked – and answered by the authorities – as to how a difference of 500 yards is still ‘protecting’ Sikkim. This raises questions as to what the concerned department and the state government is really preoccupied with and whether it has to do with scaremongering in the name of bird flu.
The ban on the entry of poultry products is now beginning to show some acute consequences. There are no eggs available with the big hotels or with the small traders. Most small traders have had to shut shop and in fact have been run out of business by unscrupulous ‘middle men’.
In fact the small traders here in Gangtok have already made representations to the concerned authorities but it seems that vested interests have got an upper hand. Not only has the livelihoods of small traders been affected, the common public is being made to pay usurious prices for eggs and chicken.
Across the border in Rangpo on the Bengal side, eggs cost Rs. 3 per piece. The cost of the egg doubles due to the transportation cost of 500 yards as it enters Rangpo to the Sikkim side. The cost of live poultry too is considerably higher in Sikkim than in West Bengal, from where, despite the ban, it finds its way in.
People have wizened up to the fact that there is no bird flu in the country though it seems the Animal Husbandry department has not as yet. In this context numerous complaints have been pouring in as to why poultry products have become so expensive and also unavailable here in Sikkim.