The Hindu : New Delhi News : Illegal meat shops a health threat: survey

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Wednesday, Feb 06, 2008
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Illegal meat shops a health threat: survey

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

NEW DELHI: The Capital may be on high alert against the dreaded avian flu virus, but little action has been taken against the several illegal meat shops operating across the city.

A survey conducted by non-government organisation Animal Saviour has revealed that the city has a large number of illegal roadside meat shops and most of these are functioning from makeshift facilities that are very unhygienic and have encroached on footpaths.

No licence

“These shops are running without licence which means that the products they are selling have no quality control, no vets are engaged to check the health of the chicken before they are killed and there is no check on handling of products. These conditions are ideal to ensure that Delhiites are left susceptible to any virus that may be around,” said Animal Saviour managing trustee Gautam Grover.

Alarmed at the state of affairs, the NGO is planning to send out letters to officials concerned warning about the health threat and mismanagement.

‘Most unhygienic’

“Our survey found that as per the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s ‘tehbazari’ law, only vegetable vendors can sell their products in the open with permission. But meat shops are located next to these vendors which is illegal. Almost all of them have no licence to be there.

These shops sell their wares in the most unhygienic manner and can cause diseases,” added Mr. Gautam.

The report also said that these illegally running meat shops throw their garbage out into the open.

“The working and operations of these illegal shops violate the DMC Act 1957, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 and the Delhi Police Act 1972. But few are checked or shut down. We have come up with a list of shops where we noticed illegal sale going on. The areas include Dabri Gaon, Sector-5 Dwarka, areas next to Chirag Delhi flyover and the vegetable market behind Bhikaji Cama Place,” said Mr. Gautam.

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