Meat traders warn of beef shortage

Panaji: Meat traders in the state have warned of beef shortage as "members of animal welfare board" have stopped trucks transporting cattle to the slaughter house in the state.

The traders said the board members claimed the animals were of economic and agriculture value and could not be taken for slaughter. "The animal welfare board members have been directing the cattle to a Quepem-based gaushala. Already, 10 bovines have been sent to the gaushala," Anwar Bepari, member of the meat traders association, told TOI. "All of those bovines were aged and past the age of agricultural use. Despite that we are being harassed," he said.

Bepari said they have stopped sourcing live cattle from Belgaum for the past few days and instead importing cold meat from neighbouring states to meet the demand.

"Slaughter houses in Karnataka who supply the cold meat to us are also facing such issues. If there are hindrances in bringing the cold meat as well, Goa will likely face a serious shortage in beef," Bepari said.

Goa has only one government-run slaughter house at Usgaon. On an average, 20-25 trucks of live cattle is brought into the state per week. Each truck carries at least five to six animals. The traders who source live cattle have to mandatorily take it to Goa Meat Complex at Usgaon for slaughter.

The Goa Meat Complex has the capacity to slaughter 150 cattle.

"We are not happy with the way things are functioning. We have not been carrying out any cattle slaughter at Goa Meat Complex. We will meet chief minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday to discuss our grievances with him," Quraishi meat traders' association president Manna Bepari told TOI.

"If the government intends to run the Goa Meat Complex, efforts must be made to ensure safe transportation of cattle from Belgaum to Goa. Constant interference from different animal activists is creating hindrances in the smooth functioning of the abbatior," a Goa Meat Complex official said.