The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Shifting of slaughterhouses: officials at wits end

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Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Shifting of slaughterhouses: officials at wits end

Laiqh A. Khan

Authorities are facing stiff resistance from local people

Land at Igalur in Anekal taluk on the outskirts
of Bangalore was finalised for a modern abattoir
Work on the land had begun in 2005 but local people put a stop to the construction

BANGALORE: The proposal to shift the slaughterhouses in Bangalore to the outskirts of the city is turning out to be a ticklish issue with the authorities facing stiff resistance from the local people in almost every place identified for constructing a modern abattoir, including at Igalur in Anekal taluk near here.

Twenty places

A senior official of Karnataka Meat and Poultry Marketing Company Limited (KMPMCL) told The Hindu that inspection had been carried out at almost 20 places ever since the High Court ordered the Government to shift the slaughterhouses from the existing locations in the city about five years ago. “But we have encountered strong resistance from the locals almost every where,” said the official, virtually throwing up his hands in frustration.

Order

The High Court had ordered the shifting of the slaughterhouses from its existing locations, including the 85-year-old one located at Tannery Road, on the basis of a writ petition complaining against the unhygienic atmosphere and foul smell emanating form its precincts.

Other complaints

The other complaints against the abattoirs included the slaughter of animals in excess of installed capacity, which contributed to environmental degradation of the surrounding area.

When the authorities went scouting for land to construct a modern abattoir before shifting the slaughterhouses from their existing locations, they encountered strong opposition from the local people.

Shortlisted

Among the places shortlisted was a plot of land at Karchakanahalli, situated at a distance of about 2 km from Tannery Road. “But, soon structures resembling places of worship came up on the land forcing us to abandon the plan,” the official said.

However, a plot of land spread across 40 acres at Igalur in Anekal taluk on the outskirts of Bangalore was finalised for the construction of a modern abattoir at a cost of Rs. 20 crore.

“We acquired the land in 2005 at a cost of Rs. 2.5 crore and even began the construction of a hi-tech abattoir,” he said.

But the local people of Igalur organised a series of protests and even roped in environmentalists against the setting up of an abattoir anywhere in the vicinity of Igalur, forcing the Karnataka Meat and Poultry Marketing Company Limited to suspend the construction of the said abattoir.

Troublesome

The KMPMCL, a state Government undertaking, established with the objective of ensuring hygiene at slaughterhouses and construct modern abattoirs wherever necessary, is at its wits end over the turn of events.

Thankless job

The officials simply wish to wash their hands off the responsibility of maintaining the slaughterhouses entrusted to them by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

The BBMP, which is vested with the responsibility of providing a suitable place for slaughter of animals, has given the lease for maintaining the slaughterhouses at Tannery Road and Usman Khan Road in City Market, besides the pig slaughterhouse at Pottery Road to KMPMCL.

Recent order

The recent order to close down operations at the slaughterhouses came after the High Court refused to give the BBMP more time to shift to the new location.

The opposition of locals to construction of a hi-tech abattoir, however, has turned out to be a blessing in disguise to the meat merchants of Bangalore.

For, few among them are open to the idea of shifting their operations to a place far off from the existing location.

Preference stated

President of Karnataka Sheep and Goat Traders and Mutton Merchants’ Association Chotu Khuraishi told The Hindu the meat merchants would prefer the authorities to take up the modernisation and upgradation work at the existing slaughterhouse itself.

But, the KMPMCL officials said the slaughterhouse at Tannery Road was spread across barely four acres of land. “The space available is not enough for construction of a modern abattoir, with equipment for preservation of hides, besides processing of blood and other by-products,” the official added.

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