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Butchers want GVMC abattoir to be reopened

Thousands of butchers under the banner of Mutton Merchants Welfare Association decided to not sell meat from November 26.

Visakhapatnam: Thousands of butchers under the banner of Mutton Merchants Welfare Association decided to not sell meat from November 26 if the GVMC fails to reopen the slaughterhouse at Hanumanthuwaka Junction in the city. With the closure of GVMC’s slaughter house at Hanumanthawaka Junction in the city, the butchers are supposed to go to the modern abattoir being operated by Vizag Foods Private Limited (VFPL), Marikavalasa, which is around 15 km to the north of the city.

But, a majority of the butchers are not going to the authorised abattoir for the slaughtering of animals citing that the authorised one is far away. Secretary of Mutton Merchants Association B. Appala Raju said that they don’t want to go the modern abattoir which is meant for buffaloes. Mutton lovers, hoteliers and others will not by meat if we bring it from the modern abattoir as they suspect the mixture of buffalo meat into mutton. We have been demanding a separate abattoir within the city limits or reopening of the slaughterhouse at Hanumanthawaka Junction by the modernisation of it. We will not slaughter meat would not sell meat from coming Sunday if GVMC ignores their demands, he added.

Legal advisor for the association I.M. Ahmed said that with the GVMC’s decision the Hindus would be hurt as 11 acres were allotted to beef abattoir and only half acre was given to goat slaughterhouse that too at the same place. The slaughterhouse was located at Hanumanthawaka Junction for the past 33 years. “How come the slaughterhouse has become a problem for the government now?” he asked.

There are thousands of families dependent on this activity. The decision by the authorities will destroy the livelihood of the meat sellers, he lamented. President of the association K Venkata Appa Rao said that nearly 700 mutton shops were spread in all the zones including Bheemili, Tagarapuvalasa, Gajuwaka and Ankapalle. But, the modern abattoir was located at far from city and GVMC authorities have been slapping Rs2,000 fine if the vendors slaughter the goats at the shops, he added.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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