Abattoir modernisation: BJP wants Union government to step in

MANGALURU: The BJP has finally taken its fight against the proposed upgrading of the city’s lone abattoir at Kasba Bazar area of the city in Kudroli under the Smart City project to the Centre. A delegation of Gou Samrakshana Prakoshta of the state unit of the BJP headed by Vinay L Shetty, co-convenor of the prakoshta, called on Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, minister of state for food processing industry, to lodge their plaint against the proposed upgrading of the abattoir.
A memorandum submitted to Sadhvi Niranjan, copies of which were circulated to the media locally, urged her to direct the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) not to modernise the existing abattoir, but to build a new facility outside the city limits. Noting that the present abattoir under the MCC is not in accordance with rules governing it, Vinay said it flouts environmental laws, and that there is also 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 a residential area on one side and river on the other, he said the MCC commissioner has repeatedly submitted affidavits to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board as well as the Supreme Court that the abattoir will be shifted to a location outside the MCC limits. The new facility will be housed on 5 acres at Pachchanady, it was stated in the affidavit, he said.

District minister U T Khader in September prevailed on the Mangaluru Smart City Ltd, the 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, and an area for expanding it scientifically.