Minister slams BMP for lack of hygiene in slaughterhouses

Minister slams BMP for lack of hygiene in slaughterhouses
The Hindu

KSPCB may issues notices to BMP, Urban Development Department

BANGALORE: The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and the Department of Forests, Ecology and Environment will issue notices to Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) and the Urban Development Department for poor maintenance of slaughterhouses in city.

Minister for Forests C. Chennigappa, who conducted a surprise inspection of two major slaughterhouses on Tannery Road and at Russell Market in the city on Thursday, found that the BMP had failed to maintain hygienic conditions at these houses.

Mr. Chennigappa, who noticed animal waste scattered at the slaughterhouse, slammed BMP officials for neglecting the maintenance of abattoirs.

"What are you doing with the money that the Government allots for maintenance of these houses?

"If people consume meat that has been cut in such unhygienic conditions, won't they fall sick?" he asked them.

The Minister was annoyed that the civic body had not made any effort to maintain hygiene and waste disposal at the slaughterhouse.

"The foul smell that emanates from this open plant is unbearable. I wonder how people in the vicinity live," he said.

He said the inspection was taken up following complaints from residents in and around the area.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had asked him to conduct an inspection. The Minister asked the BMP officials and contractors at the market to ensure that cleanliness was maintained in these houses with immediate effect.

"I will inspect these places again soon and if I find that the condition has not improved, disciplinary action will be initiated against you," he said.

Child labour

The Minister, who found two children were employed at the slaughterhouse on Tannery Road, summoned the jurisdictional BMP official.

He asked him to ensure that children were not deployed for work there.

Following a direction by the Karnataka High Court to shift all slaughterhouses from the city to the outskirts, the BMP has started work on setting up a modern abattoir on a 40-acre land near Iblur village in Anekal taluk of Bangalore Rural District.

This project, tenders for which have been invited, is likely to be completed in 30 months.