LSG deals a fatal blow to corporation's modern abattoir plan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even if foot and moth disease (FMD) threat is negated, the city folk will have to consume meat at their own risk. Exactly a year after the health wing of the city corporation submitted a proposal to modernize its slaughterhouse at Kunnukuzhy, the project has been dropped after the local self government department communicated that it could provide only Rs 50 lakh when the entire project cost is Rs 2.5 crore.

The health standing committee meeting held on Friday decided not to proceed with the project anymore citing that the finance standing committee would raise objections regarding disbursal of rest of the amount from own fund. "We can't go ahead with the project considering the directive from LSG. We were looking forward to meeting the entire expense with the funds from the government. The communication that only Rs 50 lakh will be allowed was never expected," said S Pushpalatha, chairperson, health standing committee.

The civic body has also not prepared another project proposal which needs to be submitted to the ministry of food processing to avail funds for setting up modern slaughterhouses. Also the ruling council has decided to press for Rs 15-crore project proposal mooted by food safety commissioner Biju Prabhakar. However, funds required for this project will be allotted only in the next financial year.

What this means is that the city will be practically left with no standardized slaughterhouse to ensure hygienic supply of meat for at least next two years. The civic body had recently clamped down on the illegal slaughtering thriving at Kunchalumoodu and areas around Nemom. With no measures to be implemented during the New Year to check the practice, illegal slaughtering is expected to gain strength posing serious health hazards to the city residents who consume meat.

The decision to drop the plan to modernise the slaughterhouse has raised questions about the proposal to train butchers as per the recommendations to train expert committee. About 50 butchers have been chosen for training at Peroorkada and Kudapanakkunnu. "What are the butchers supposed to do after the training? There is not going to be any slaughterhouse in the city for the next two years. The training of butchers will now be a farce and wastage of funds," a corporation official said.

As per the plan, the corporation had drawn a project proposal to modernise the slaughter house and set up a rendering plant. The rendering plant, with a capacity to treat four tonnes of waste a day, was to be set up at a cost of Rs 2 crore, and was to function on a build, operate and transfer basis. The pollution control board has also denied sanction for slaughtering small animals at Kunnukuzhy citing lack of a biogas plant to treat the waste.

SLAUGHTERED PROPOSAL

Corporation submitted a proposal to modernize its slaughterhouse at Kunnukuzhy at a cost of Rs 2.5 cr

Local self govt department says it could provide only Rs 50 lakh

The civic body has also not prepared another project proposal to be submitted to the ministry of food processing to avail funds for setting up modern slaughterhouses

Pollution control board denies sanction for slaughter of small animals citing lack of biogas plant

Health standing committee meeting held on Friday decided not to proceed with the project