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GMC to implement Slaughter House Bye-laws

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Nov 3 � In the backdrop of the Supreme Court�s instructions to ensure painless and scientific slaughter of livestock, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation has initiated the process of implementation of the Slaughter House Bye-laws, 2012 in Guwahati.

Beginning this drive from Khanapara zone, the corporation in a meeting with members of the meat dealers� associations, urged them to bring their animals for slaughter to the modern slaughterhouse of NEC Food Processing Pvt Ltd, Khanapara. Initially, the meat dealers of Ganeshguri, Beltola, Sixmile, Dispur Supermarket and Basistha areas have been asked to follow the set parameters by slaughtering the animals at the modern slaughterhouse at Khanapara.

It may be noted that hundreds of private slaughter houses and meat shops in the city have been a cause of concern and nuisance for the common people.

Moreover, such setups are already under the scanner of animal rights activists for following a painful process.

In addition, open and unhygienic sale of meat would soon be banned as the meat sellers have been asked to arrange for glass and net covers and maintain strict hygiene at their shops within a period of 15 days.

�The idea behind this initiative is to ensure that hygienic meat is obtained through painless process of slaughter. Since antemortem and postmortem inspection process is strictly followed in the modern slaughterhouse, the consumers can rest assured that the meat is fit for consumption,� said Dr Manoj Kr Goswami, Veterinary Officer of the GMC.

Antemortem inspection identifies animals not fit for human consumption or the animals that are down, disabled, diseased, or dead. Postmortem inspection of the carcasses, on the other hand helps to identify whole carcasses, individual parts, or organs not safe for human consumption.

The Khanapara food processing unit has the capacity of slaughtering 1,500 goats per shift, 100 pigs per shift and 4,500 chickens per shift. The plant however, is currently processing only 10 per cent and 50 per cent of its capacity of goats and chickens respectively. Pig slaughter has not yet been started commercially.

�Since this step has been initiation in consultation of the Guwahati Meat Association, the rate of slaughter would also be decided mutually by the members of NEC Food Processing Pvt Ltd and the meat association. The meat sellers have also been asked for supplying female genital organs free of cost to research scholars or veterinary students for study purpose, on producing identity cards,� he added.

There are provisions of more such scientific slaughterhouses in the upcoming municipal markets of the city. Of hundreds of meat shops operating in the city, many do not have the required license. The drive would also include periodic review of hygienic condition as well as the license of the private shops.

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