Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad   

MCH crackdown on illegal slaughter houses

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD Sept. 15. As part of its intensified drive against the illegal slaughter houses in the twin cities, the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad has seized more than 5,000 kg of meat, predominantly beef, and had closed down 14 such outlets in the last three days.

Special team consisting of two assistant directors, veterinary assistant surgeons and enforcement cell members have raided the slaughter houses being run without permission and in the most unhygienic of conditions in the areas of Ramnasthpura, Golkonda, Barkas and Gowlipura.

The MCH officials estimated that everyday, at least 50 to 60 animals, including large ones were being killed in these slaughter houses and the meat was being supplied to retail traders at a substantially low price compared to the meat supplied by the officially recognised slaughter houses.

``Meat generated through such illegal slaughter houses is quite dangerous as the animals are killed in filthy conditions and there is no veterinary doctor to cull out the old and diseased animals,'' explains an MCH official.

With the body parts like the viscera strewn outside there was every chance of air, water and soil getting polluted and entering the food chain. There was also a chance of animal diseases spreading to humans and spread of other communicable diseases.

Though the illegal slaughter houses have been operating for several years now, the MCH was forced to act as there were complaints from the Old City areas about communicable diseases being prevalent and such illegal slaughter houses were identified as one of the main causes.

There are about five official slaughter houses catering to the meat requirements in the twin cities in Ziaguda, Gowlipura, Ramnasthpura, Amberpet and Bhoiguda handling big and small animals. They slaughter about 500 large animals and 6,000 to 8,000 small animals like sheep and goats.

MCH officials dismiss the contention that the illegal slaughter houses could be catering to the increasing but unmet demand for meat. "We can easily increase the output in the official slaughter houses by putting in more shifts,'' says an official.

The special team had also come across illegal pig rearing units in some of the areas. The MCH officials have warned the retail meat traders to desist from purchasing the illegal commodity as there was a likelihood of their trade licenses being revoked and prosecution being launched.

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