With the closure of bars, restaurants and hotels serving liquor along the national and state highways following the Supreme Court's ban on liquor vends on highways, the poultry sector is now feeling the heat.

This is feared to have an unfavorable impact on livelihood of nearly 5,000 poultry farmers in Haryana and Punjab. While the ban on sale of liquor within 500 meters of these roads, has already affected the hospitality sector adversely,  chicken consumption in both the states is falling.

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The same is expected in adjoining areas including neighboring Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir with closure of highway bars which used to have chicken item on top of their menus.

MK Gupta, General Manager, North Zone, Venky's India Limited, a specialist in chicken meat processing, told The Statesman that more than 10 percent of the total chicken consumption in both of the states, belongs to bars, restaurants and hotels along with national highway and closure of such dining points due to the liquor ban would also affect the same consumption.

"Chicken consumption in both of the states in approximate 50 lakh kg per month, amounts to 2.5 crore birds. Most of this belongs to national highway passing through both of the states. The said amount is likely to affect nearly 5000 poultry farmers in these states," he said.

As per the assessment, the decline in chicken consumption is going to cause nearly Rs. 50 crore monthly loss to the industry in these states, an average Rs One lakh to each of such poultry farmers, added Gupta.

However, Gupta added that the beef ban by Yogi Adityanath led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh is expected to compensate the loss of the chicken industry as the beef lovers now would shift to chicken meat now.

The Supreme Court recently has ordered for shut down of liquor vends
within 500 meters of national and state highway from April 1.

Following the move, out of total 478, bars in nearly 194 restaurants and hotels along with national and state highways would be closed in Haryana. Majority of them are situated in Gurugram. According to the State Excise and Taxation Department, shutting down of such bars and pubs in Haryana would cause nearly Rs 100 crore revenue loss too.

Similarly, in Punjab a total 2500 liquor vends, bars, pubs and hotels
serving liquor are facing closure due to the apex court order.