Bhubaneswar, Feb. 18: The Odisha State Poultry Products Co-operative Marketing Federation Limited (Opolfed) has stopped supply of chicken and egg to the booths from Sunday.

The step was taken after the fisheries and animal resources development department issued a notice to the booth owners asking for withdrawal of their licence on February 11.

There are 54 Opolfed booths in the city and they have all been accused of selling non-poultry products. They have also been charged with encroachment of land and causing traffic congestion apart from attacking enforcement squads. They have been selling unhealthy fast food.

While the aggrieved Opolfed agents today alleged that the cooperative had targeted them to shield its inefficiency to supply enough eggs and chicken, Opolfed authorities termed the claim as 'baseless'.

According to them, the agents had never cared to lift their minimum quota of 1,000 eggs and 10kg of chicken per day per booth. The agents also alleged that Opolfed was charging more to supply eggs and chicken.

Opolfed public relations officer Birakishore Parida said: 'While the state government is always claiming to promote better health for citizens, Opolfed agents are selling fast food. Therefore, the authorities have time and again asked the agents to stop the practice, but it was never followed. We do not want to take the blame for even one death due to bad food under the Opolfed brand name.'

Joint-secretary in fisheries and animal resource development department Raghunandan Mishra said daily price of eggs was determined by National Egg Coordination Committee so there was no way the state cooperative could influence it.

Mishra also cited his concern over selling of other food items at the stalls other than eggs and chicken. He also said the licence issued to the agents had already expired and they had no 'authority' to show any documents in the favour of continuing business with Opolfed.

It can be mentioned here that the high court has also ordered the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation to take immediate action against illegal agents selling Opolfed and Omfed products.

While addressing mediaperons here today, legal advisor of Bhubaneswar Opolfed Agents' Association Ballabh Sahu asked why action was taken only against Opolfed as Omfed booths were also selling many products, including tobacco.

Association secretary Abani Kumar Mohanty said: 'If the Opolfed booths were illegal and their licences have expired then how the municipal corporation was issuing licences to them at such prime localities?'