Ban on 3 abbatoirs withdrawn

Ban on 3 abbatoirs withdrawn
DH News Service,Bangalore:
In a late evening development, the State government withdrew its orders for shutting down three slaughter houses in Yeshwantpur, City Market and Tannery Road.

According to the earlier notice issued on December 31, the slaughter houses were to stop functioning from Monday, a move that could have severely affected availability of meat in the City.

A top official from the Karnataka Meat and Poultry Marketing Corporation (KAMPCO) told Deccan Herald: “There is a fresh order from the government to allow the three slaughter houses to function. They will continue functioning till further notice by the government.”

The slaughter houses which have been functioning from 1923 were ordered to shut down and were asked to move to the outskirts of the City in 2002 by the Karnataka High Court following a PIL filed by a resident Krishna Bhat on grounds of hygiene. The High Court had dismissed subsequent pleas by meat merchants and the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), seeking continuance.

The government has even acquired 40 acres of land at Iggalur in Anekal taluk for setting up a modern abbatoir with a view to provide consumers with wholesome and hygienic meat.

However, the government has found it difficult to implement the order following repeated appeals by the meat merchants and protests by the residents of Iggalur village.

The order will come as a relief to merchants and meat stall owners who were facing the prospect of closure. But for residents and consumers who have been complaining of foul smell emanating from the houses and the lack of hygiene this is a fresh setback.