Date:04/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/04/stories/2006030406940200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

On the menu ... only chicken, eggs

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: Entry into the Vijaya Rani Mahal on Arcot Road, Vadapalani, was restricted on Wednesday evening. Only those having tokens were allowed inside.

The occasion: an `egg and chicken mela'. The National Egg Co-ordination Committee (NECC), Chennai Zone, along with the State Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry Department, organised an `egg and chicken mela'. After reports from Maharashtra spoke of a bird flu spread last month, chicken sales dropped. Organisers said the event helped spread the message that there was no need to panic on account of the bird flu, and that the poultry here was not affected.

The NECC authorities said 1,500 kg of chicken were used to cook chicken items, and 3,000 eggs to make omelettes, egg bajji and egg fry. Film and TV stars, including Senthil, Vaiyapuri and Paandu, and TV compere Mahalakshmi participated in the mela.