Date:03/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/03/stories/2009010355330600.htm

Karnataka

Three Bangalore slaughterhouses to be closed down from Monday

Special Correspondent

Karnataka decision follows High Court order of August 2008

Slaughterhouses to be shifted to the outskirts after complaints of unhygienic atmosphere
Civic body had sought time to shift abattoirs

BANGALORE: A section of residents of Bangalore may have to go without meat from Monday as the government has ordered the closure of the three slaughterhouses in the city.

In an order of December 31, 2008, the Karnataka Meat and Poultry Marketing Corporation has decided to withdraw the rights given to meat merchants of Bangalore to slaughter animals at its three abattoirs at Yeshwanthpur and City Market and on Tannery Road.

The authorities had decided to shift the slaughterhouses from Bangalore to the outskirts in view of complaints about unhygienic atmosphere and the foul smell emanating from their precincts.

Though the government had initially decided to modernise the abattoir on Tannery Road keeping in mind the complaints about the lack of hygiene on the premises and even prepared a Rs. 4.65-crore plan in 2002, the proposal could not be implemented after a petition was filed in the Karnataka High Court seeking the shifting of the slaughterhouse to the outskirts.

What the GO says

According to the Government Order, a copy of which is available with The Hindu, all activities at the slaughterhouses should come to a halt after work hours on Sunday.

However, fish and poultry products such as chicken and eggs will continue to be available. The meat merchants have expressed opposition to the Government OrderAn estimated four lakh people are engaged in meat business in the city.

Dispute

The Karnataka Meat and Poultry Marketing Corporation’s decision to close down the abattoirs comes after years of dispute over its shifting to the outskirts of the city.

According to an official of the corporation, the decision to close down the abattoirs was taken after the High Court of Karnataka, in an order passed on August 28, 2008, rejected the civic body’s request for more time.