Looking for options: Nonveggies shift to fish & eggs

Fish prices shoot up, but no effect on eggs. Small time egg vendors a happy lot

Lucknow: Non vegetarians have perforce shifted to fish and eggs following meat vendors’ strike in the state capital. However, the sudden change in food habits has spurred a minor rise in the rates of fish in the local markets.

On Sunday, mutton and chickens shops observed a total shutdown as meat sellers protesting against the crackdown on illegal and mechanised slaughter houses in Uttar Pradesh went on an indefinite strike.

As a result, the number of customers in the fish market increased. The rates of Rohu shot up to Rs 400 per kg from Rs 360 just a day before , while prices of other fish, which ranged between Rs 120 to 160 shot up to Rs 180 to R200 in the fish market of Qaiserbagh and Kanpur Road.

There was no change in the price of eggs (Rs 48 per dozen) in the wholesale market but the rates increased in the retail market.

The closure of eateries like Tunde Kebabi and Idris benefited small vendors selling eggs on roadside carts. The demand for boiled eggs increased threefold, said Kashif, an egg stall owner at Lalkuan.

The mutton and chicken sellers who have pulled down their shutters have warned the government of intensifying their stir from Monday.

Major non veg food outlets, including the famous Tunday, Idris, Wahid and Rahim’s, remained closed as a mark of solidarity to meat traders.

Mubeen Qureshi of the Lucknow Bakra Gosht Vypar Mandal, said, “The meat sellers are worried over the irrational crackdown on slaughter houses. This has created shortage of beef in the market. Now butchers are afraid of slaughtering buffaloes and this has adversely hit their livelihood.”

He said, “The government has only ordered action against illegal slaughterhouses and ban on cow smuggling but here officials are closing down shops selling chicken and mutton.”

However, former mayor and deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma has assured the meat sellers that action is only against the illegal slaughter houses and illegal meat sellers, not against licensed meat traders.

Chief veterinary officer Dr AK Rao also assured smooth trade to licensed meat traders but said those in illegal trade of meat would not be spared as this was directly connected with the health of the people.

However, prices of vegetables are still stable in all major mandis of city.