Unlicenced abattoirs in city stay put, Ambattur is top of the list with 90

The city is notorious for illegal slaughterhouses. Ambattur the list, with more illegal abattoirs than any other zone in Chennai, according to an actiontaken report on illegal meat shops, submitted to the southern bench of the National Green Tribunal.

According to the report, Ambattur zone is followed by Thiru-Vi-Ka-Nagar, Valasaravakkam, Sholinganallur and Adyar. Since March 2014, of 133 illegal shops closed, 51 were closed in Ambattur 25 in alsaravakkam and 15 in Adyar. Most applications for licences were from Sholinganallur, Valasaravakkam and Kodambakkam zones.

Meat shops in Ambattur, Alandur and Thiru-Vi-KaNagar received the largest number of licences. Prosecution was initiated against 37 shops in Thiru-Vi-Ka-Nagar and 11 each in Ambattur and Anna Nagar.

The deputy commissioner (health), who submitted the affidavit on behalf of the corporation commissioner, said: “Out of 421 unlicenced shops, we have closed 133 and issued licences to 179. Fifty shops have applied for licence and prosecution has started against 59 shops.“

Last year, People for Cattle in India (PFCI), a welfare organisation for animals, had moved the tribunal seeking a ban on illegal slaughterhouses in the city and suburbs.

In March 2014, the corporation's chief veterinary officer said there were 1,245 licensed and 421 unlicensed shops in the city and outskirts. Those without licences had been issued notices, he said.

When the matter came up for hearing last week, the civic body said it had “taken intensive public health measures to control illegal slaughter and sale of meat.“ It also “initiated constant surveillance“ through its 15 public health officers and 15 veterinary officials.

The PFCI counsel said 50 shops that had applied for licences, were carrying on business as usual. Also, according to a 1980 GO, meat shops and slaughterhouses across the state had to close on Mahaveer Jayanti, Vallalar day, Mahaveer Nirvan day and Thiruvallur Day .This is not being followed, he said.

A bench of judicial member M Chockalingam and expert member R Nagendran directed the civic body to “strictly comply with the GO“ and also ensure that meat shops are not open on October 5, Vallalar Day . “The tribunal fervently hopes to stop the functioning of unlicenced meat shops in the city,“ the bench said, posting the matter to November 11.