New Delhi

Politics over abattoir

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 28. Politics seem to be taking precedence over logic, planning and, most importantly, the environment and the people living in it. This is exactly what is happening in the case of setting up of a modern slaughter house as directed by the Supreme Court. From the word go, the Cabinet sub-committee set up for the purpose seems divided over finding an alternative site near the Millennium Park for the slaughter house which could not only endanger the entire area but also snatch away a part of the huge park.

The committee, constituted by the Delhi Government, has been asked to look at the alternative site proposal for setting up the slaughter house which had been originally proposed at Ghazipur in East Delhi. However, even before it began deliberations on the issue, major differences have cropped over the new location. The new site suggested by the State Finance Minister, A.K. Walia, is adjoining the Millennium Park and behind Delhi Zoo. However, it is understood that not only would this lead to resentment among thousands of people who throng the park everyday and on Sundays along with their families, it could face stiff resistance from environmentalists. It is learnt that a part of the Park would have be consumed by the proposed new slaughter house if it comes up at this place.

Sources informed that another problem would be location of the new site. It is just adjoining the busy Ring Road along Bhairon Marg and a slaughter house could prove detrimental to the traffic plan of the area. Similarly, people who come for their morning and evening walks in the park and would be treated to foul smell and dead animals in their surroundings. "It is just unimaginable to even think of this site as it will lead to lot of resentment against the Government and its functionaries. The trans-Yamuna politics should not be allowed to take precedence over people and environment. Then there is also the scrutiny of the Supreme Court that the new site will have to undergo raising the possibility of its rejection. It is better to stick to the original site with a better worked out plan," a member of the committee remarked.

Even the Ministerial colleagues of the Chief Minister are not quite happy with the new move of Dr. Walia and the Ghazipur MLA, Nasib Singh. The Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit's one of the biggest achievement has been the cleaning of Delhi's air and the fight to protect the environment in the Capital. With such an unpopular move, it will risk damaging this image, which was not a feasible option. "The people of area should be explained the rationale of a modernised and air-conditioned slaughter house. All aspects should be presented to them to convince them. The political representatives of the Delhi Government should stay away from the agitation and rather try and sooth the feelings of the people rather than instigating them," a senior Minister stated.

Dr. Walia informed that after inspection of the area, it was found that although the length of the site was around 3 km, but the width of the area was not satisfactory that had sent the Government into the re-thinking mode. "We will study all aspects of the situation and submit our report to the Cabinet within a week. There are other options also that need to explored before arriving at a final conclusion," he added.

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