BJP takes fight against upgradation of Mangaluru's abattoir under smart city project to Centre

MANGALURU: The BJP has finally taken its fight against the proposed upgradation of city’s lone abattoir at Kasba Bazar area in Kudroli under the smart city project to the Centre. A delegation of Gou Samrakshana Prakoshta of state unit of BJP headed by Vinay L Shetty, co-convenor of the prakoshta called on Sadhvi Niranjana Jyothi, minister of state for food processing industry to lodge their plaint against the proposed upgradation.

A memorandum submitted to Sadhvi Niranjana, copies of which were circulated to the local media, urged her to direct Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) not to modernise the existing abattoir, but to build new facility outside the city limits. Noting that the present abattoir under MCC is not in accordance with rules governing it, Vinay said, it flouts environment laws plus there is a big question mark over the quality of meat produced there.

Citing ‘expert’ opinion that it is not possible to modernise the abattoir at the present location, surrounded by residential area on one side and river on the other, he said MCC commissioner has repeatedly submitted affidavits to Karnataka State Pollution Control Board as well as the Supreme Court that the abattoir will be shifted to a location outside MCC limits. The new facility will be housed on a 5-acre plot of land at Pachchanady in its affidavit, he said.

The district minister U T Khader in September last prevailed on Mangaluru Smart City Ltd, SPV formed to take forward the smart city projects to consider modernising the abattoir in its current location at a cost of Rs 15 crore. Vinay contended that the existing abattoir does not have basic amenities such as drains, area for expanding it scientifically and doing so will be at the cost of all directives given by the Board as well as the apex court.

The current location is favourable and convenient only to those who want to carry out illegal activities much to the chagrin of the locals, Vinay contended adding that the BJP, opposition party in MCC, has already opposed this proposal of the SPV at the council meeting. The ministry must direct the MCC and MSCL to drop the proposal of modernising the existing slaughterhouse and shift it to notified area in Pachchanady following rules, he said.