The civic body of Surat city in Gujarat Wednesday lifted its ban on sales of poultry products following culling operations to check the spread of bird flu in the region. According to officials, the ban was lifted from across Surat district in south Gujarat, except the 10-km radius of Uchchhal taluka, where bird flu was detected a week ago.
Surat district, about 250 km south of here, is adjacent to Maharashtra's Nandurbar district that last month reported India's first case of bird flu.Around 106,000 chickens have been put down in Surat district.
"Consumption of chicken and other poultry products in Surat is by far the highest in Gujarat," said Yaqub Qureishi of the Gujarat Broiler Farmers' Association.
"The consumption in normal circumstances in Ahmedabad is 20 to 25 tonnes a day whereas in Surat, it is 30 to 35 tonnes."
