Visakhapatnam: Mutton lovers had to manage with vegetarian dishes on Sunday as the Mutton Merchants Association shut down their counters demanding the district authorities to reopen the GVMC slaughterhouse at Hanumanthawaka junction. The association members staged a dharna in the city on Sunday. All the mutton shops in and around city were shut off.
The slaughterhouse at Hanumanthawaka Junction was shut down by GVMC three months ago as the civic body has set up new modern abattoir at Marikavalasa for both goat and beef in one place. Stating that the Hindu community sentiments would be hurt, the association found fault with the authorities move as 11 acres was allotted to beef abattoir and only half acre was given to goat slaughter house that too at same place. “Non-veg eaters from Hindu community in the city would not buy meat from mutton outlets if goats get slaughtered at Marikavalasa abattoir,” said Mutton Merchants Association president Kilani Venkata Apparao. According to him, more than 700 mutton shops were spread in all the zones including Bheemili, Tagarapuvalasa, Gajuwaka and Ankapalle.
“All the mutton outlet owners will take out a rally from Saraswathi Park to GVMC on Monday. At GVMC, we will sit for a relay hunger strike,” Apparao said adding that GVMC authorities have been slapping Rs 2,000 fine if the vendors slaughter the goats at the shops. It is learnt that the GVMC had assured to construct area wise slaughterhouses at Gajuwaka and Pendurthy. The mutton vendors of four zones were asked to shift to Marikavalasa. However, the association is demanding the civic body to set up an abattoir Mudasrlova for four zones.
Knowing that the Mutton Merchants Associa-tion would go on strike from Sunday, the hoteliers have purchased the meat before hand to serve meat delicacies for their customers. Though the Mutton vendors staged dharna on Sunday, majority of the hotels and restaurants had meat related food items on their menu. However, if the mutton vendors’s strike goes on for one week, there would be a shortage of meat.
