NEW DELHI: Acting on demand of poultry sector, the Centre has written to states asking them to allow opening of poultry shops with appropriate Covid guidelines during the current lockdown period even as animal welfare groups insisted on not lowering the guards at a time when the move has potential to increase risk during the pandemic. “I would request you to issue direction to the local administration to open the poultry shop, if not possible for entire period of time but for a particular duration, as considered appropriate following the Covid appropriate guidelines,” said Atul Chaturvedi, secretary, ministry of fisheries, animal husbandry & dairying, in his letter to chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories (UTs).