The Hindu : Kerala News : Chicken stalls to face the music

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Friday, Apr 15, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Chicken stalls to face the music

R. Ramabhadran Pillai

The word `bird' is being introduced in the Panchayati Raj Rules on slaughter houses To be brought under slaughterhouse rules

KOCHI: Chicken stalls in the State will be brought under the rules applicable to slaughter houses and meat stalls as per a new Government Order (Rt)1488/04/LSGD, issued by the Local Self-Government Department on April 11.

The stalls where the birds are killed, dressed and sold were hitherto out of the purview of the Kerala Panchayati Raj (slaughter houses and meat stalls) Rules as there was no mention of killing of `bird' in it. This facilitated opening of chicken stalls close to public roads and residential colonies though these require a license from the local authorities.

Complaints galore

Many residents' associations and individuals had complained against chicken stalls as they pose a health hazard owing to lack of proper waste disposal mechanism.

A public interest litigation seeking incorporation of chicken stalls under the Kerala Panchayati Raj (slaughter houses and meat stalls) Rules was filed by M.K. Haridas, employee of a private company in Kochi, last year. The High Court had asked the Government to take necessary steps to ensure that the chicken stalls do not pose health hazards.

According to the Kerala Panchayati Raj (Slaughter houses and meat stalls) Rules 1996, which was amended in 1999, slaughter houses and chicken stalls should maintain a minimum distance of 90 metres from dwellings and 30 metres from public roads. In addition to having a valid licence, there is a provision to call for objections when a new chicken stall or slaughter house is opened.

The Government had asked the local self-governing bodies to take suitable steps to prevent dumping of waste from slaughter houses and poultry stalls (circular No.3268/G3/04 issued on January 19, 2004) in public places.

Warning issued

Accordingly, slaughter houses and poultry stalls had to have their own systems of waste management. Licences could be cancelled if the waste material was dumped in public places.

Even this order was found inadequate. Hence, the Government has come out with a new Government Order to include the word `bird' in the Panchayati Raj Rules so that it will be applicable to slaughter houses as well as chicken stalls.

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