The Hindu : New Delhi News : Green brigade up in arms

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 29, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Green brigade up in arms

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 28. Ironically enough, it appears that the best alternative site the Delhi Government can find to locate the Idgah Abattoir seems to be behind the city's Zoological Park. And even as the Delhi Government's move is under discussion, environmentalists are up in arms, expressing concern about the fate of the Millennium Park located nearby and the health of the animals in the zoo.

While the aim was to shift the slaughter house away from the city, this seems to be a contradictory move, complain environmentalists. "The entire idea to shift the slaughter house from the old location was to take it away from the city. If they are going to build it here, what is the big idea? It will be in the heart of the city. It does not even make sense to make it here. This is hardly a place for a slaughter house," said Ravi Aggarwal of Srishti.

Concerned about the Millennium Park that might also be affected by the relocation, animal rights activist and advocate, Raj Panjwani, commented: "They need an Environmental Impact Assessment Report before they can plan something like this. Where is that report? And where exactly will they locate this slaughter house? They cannot take away any portion of the Millennium Park because according to the Supreme Court directive, that area is a green belt. If they move further away from the zoo, then they will be close to the river Yamuna. That will be even more disastrous for the environment".

Another cause for worry is the nearness to the Zoological Park. "There are many beautiful migratory birds that come to the zoo during the winter season. What will happen to them? A slaughter house will attract lots of vultures and they will occupy this space," he added.

However, the issue is not really one of location alone. According to some, it is the planning stage that the Government has to be careful about. "If the Government is planning a modern slaughter house, the location is not so much of a concern. The system of transportation, disposal and storage would not be a problem then. But knowing the Government, there is every possibility that they will mess it up. They will not cater to all the needs of a slaughter house like a proper system of disposal and storage. They have to take the environmental management into account. But going by the way the Government usually works, they will certainly not plan for all this," said environmentalist Dunu Roy.

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