Two more abattoirs to come up in Tirupur

To improve food safety standards in the sales/supply of chevon, and mutton, the Tirupur Corporation is all set to open two more modern abattoirs in the city.

The only modern slaughter house in the corporation limits is located at the southern tip of the city. An average of 50 goats/sheep are brought for slaughtering on week days, and about 200 goats/sheep on Sundays.

Difficulties in transporting the animals to the centre from various parts of the city are cited by many meat shop owners as an excuse to slaughter the animals in the vicinity of the shops itself against the laws.

“The new abattoirs will come up near Nallur, and near the New Bus Stand, for easier accessibility to people from other areas too. It must be noted that the sellers of chevon, and mutton should compulsorily use modern abattoirs in the city for slaughtering the animals so as to attain the food production and safety standards set by the government and thereby, prevent health hazards otherwise caused,” said City Health Officer R. Selvakumar.

Apart from slaughtering animals in the open, the meat sellers in the city by and large are not sticking to the directives on keeping meat displayed in glass cabins.

“Even though meat can be seen hanging from the shops without any cover, officials are not initiating any action against violators. So, there is no point in starting any number of modern slaughter houses,” said N. Shanmugasundaram, president of the Nallur Consumer Welfare Association, who had submitted several petitions to the district administration against the unhygienic functioning of meat shops.