WORRYING TREND: The number of animals being brought to modern abattoir for slaughter is dipping each day.

HYDERABAD: Meat eaters in the twin cities were in for a shock when their favourite restaurants were caught serving unhygienic stuff. It could be wilful negligence in some cases yet there is also a chance that most eat-outs might be getting unclean meat.

These could be sourced from illegal slaughter of animals that continues in different parts, including from areas where old slaughterhouses existed but were shut officially on High Court orders two years ago.

Hygienic meat, what?

A modern abattoir constructed at Chengicherla by the Andhra Pradesh State Meat and Poultry Development Corporation (APSMPDC) was supposed to meet needs of capital in supplying hygienic certified meat.

The abattoir was to replace the work, which was earlier done by manual slaughterhouses located at Ziaguda, Ramanasthapura, Gowlipura, Amberpet and New Bhoiguda to cut down pollution levels in these areas.

But, after sinking in Rs. 33 crores (Centre Rs. 11 crores, State Government Rs. 5.5 crores, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) Rs. 5.5 crores and rest from assets sale of APSMPDC), equipping it with latest machinery and building staff quarters, godowns, etc, the abattoir is facing a bleak future.

The number of animals brought to modern abattoir for slaughter is dipping each day as more (bovines, sheep and goats) are being cut and ferried away to the market from places like Ziaguda, Ramanasthapura, and others unlawfully without regulations as officials look other way. The APSMPDC on its last legs is unable to run it and its plans to outsource its operation and maintenance to a private party did not materialise. Butchers' associations, too, did not show any interest in taking over as they have pinned their hopes on the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) modernising old slaughterhouses.

MCH grants 10 crores

Officials say the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board and the AAI have agreed for modernisation of three of them — Amberpet, Bhoiguda and Ramnasthapura. The MCH has just announced Rs. 10 crores for project but wary officials want to get it cleared by the High Court before commencing construction. Chengicherla abattoir maintenance alone is around Rs. 3 lakhs per month and revenues are dwindling. And there is resentment in the MCH that it has been left holding the baby with the bathwater.

"About 60 of our staff, including veterinary doctors, are working there every day for almost two years when the arrangement is only for a few months. We do not earn a single paisa in return. How can we allow this?" asks G.R. Lingamurthy, corporator. Dr. Lingamurthy thinks if an entry tax is levied on animals coming into the city, it could arrest illegal slaughtering and regularise trade.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail