SHILLONG, July 20 � The Meghalaya Government has announced plans to set up a modern abattoir to check illegal slaughter of animals by butchers.
�The abattoir with modern facilities will provide quality and hygienic meat to consumers and also take care of environmental pollution arising out of the slaughtering by roadsides,� Animal Husbandry Minister B N Lanong said recently.
He said the abattoir, to be built on the outskirts at a cost of Rs 22 lakh, will be designed according to the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001.
He said that 240 cattlehead, as many pigs and 160 goat or sheep could be slaughtered daily at the abattoir.
To be completed in 18 months, the slaughter house will be commissioned and handed over to a competent agency for running in Public-Private-Partnership mode.
The abattoir has been designed in such a way that entry and exit of human and animals were regulated in various ways to ensure food safety standards.
About 116 employees, including technical persons, would be required to run the abattoir, Lanong said.
He said in the absence of a modern slaughter house in the city, the slaughtering by butchers was causing a health hazard for citizens.
Last year, around 42,50,000 animals, mostly poultry, were slaughtered in the State, while meat production was 37,000 tonnes. � PTI
