The Hindu : Stage set for modern abattoir

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 31, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Stage set for modern abattoir

By V. Geetanath

HYDERABAD Dec. 30. With the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) agreeing to complete some "unfinished" works, provide certain amenities and facilities sought by the associations involved in animal slaughter, the stage has been set for a modern abattoir at Chengicherlato take over the job of meeting the meat and beef requirement of the twin cities.

Though the Are Katikas' Association is still playing truant, the five existing and polluting slaughterhouses at Ziaguda, Ramanasthapura, Gowlipura, Amberpet and New Bhoiguda are to be shut down tomorrow night as per the directive of the A.P. High Court. Writ petitions to extend the deadline have been dismissed. The other association, Qureshis, has, however, given its consent to shift their business to the abattoir, about 15 km from the city.

A six-member co-ordination committee has been formed to oversee the functioning of the abattoir. It consists of the Director of Animal Husbandry, Mohan Rao, the MCH Additional Commissioner (Health & Sanitation), Malsur, and representatives from the A.P. Pollution Control Board, Cyberabad Police Commissionerate, Rangareddy Collectorate and the Chengicherla Panchayat.

This was decided after the Mayor, T. Krishna Reddy, the MCH Commissioner, Chitra Ramachandran, the Rangareddy Collector, B.R. Meena, the Police Commissioner, R.P. Singh, and other senior officials visited the plant site to acquaint themselves of the facilities there. Later, in the evening, another meeting chaired by the Home Minister, T. Devender Goud, reviewed the steps to be taken to enforce the court order. The abattoir built by the A.P. State Meat and Poultry Development Corporation at a cost of Rs. 33 crores and spread over 83 acres could slaughter nearly 7,000 animals, including buffaloes, sheep and goat, to obtain 96,000 kg of meat and beef.

The MCH would continue to keep a check on animals being brought for the kill and the quality of meat going out at the abattoir by stationing requisite staff. It had also taken up the task of building the compound wall, platforms, offal cleaning shed, manual slaughter hall for goats and sheep and rooms as requested by the Qureshis.

While pointing out that a proper chilling plant was unnecessary at the abattoir as the produce was likely to be transported within no time, officials had agreed to install a few air-conditioners. The approach road to the plant would be double laned, while the demand for providing transport vans was not conceded as the civic body had dispensed with the practice five years ago.

The MCH had also agreed to allow opening of wholesale outlets in a section of the old slaughterhouses in the city as transit points. "But, we will scrupulously follow the orders of the High Court," clarified Ms. amachandran.

It was being estimated that the cost of running the abattoir would be about Rs.3.5 crores and the income to be around Rs. 3.7 crores.

The MCH is mulling the modalities of maintaining and running the unit. Already, the associations have been sounded and there is also a plan for calling tenders as a permanent measure. Meanwhile, `beef up' for a rise in the mutton price.

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