THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In spite of frequent ruckus created by cow vigilantes across borders in Tamilnadu and Karnataka, beef will not be dearer this Christmas in capital. Thanks to the illegal abattoirs, mandala season, demonetisation and surplus cattle that are shipped from pockets of Tirunelveli. The cost of a kilogram of beef remains stable at around Rs 300- Rs 320 per kilogram. Daily around four- five loads with 30 cattle reach city not interrupted by groups like Hindu Makkal Katchi of Tamilnadu which had shortly laid siege to cattle loads.
“Unlike in borders around Malabar, there are lesser incidents of vigilantes attacking truck loads. Interestingly across the border, in Thiruvananthapuram we had face attacks from extortionists at Attingal and Neyyatinkara who claims to be right wing activist. Each load cost lakhs of rupees, so we pay up few thousands to save the load,” said a cattle merchant. The loads that passed border enter capital and goes to fringe areas at Balaramapuram, Kallambalam, Nedumangaud. In city it goes to places like Vallakkadavu and Kunjalumoodu. Local cattle also are procured by word of mouth publicity.
“In places where slaughtering is held, if authorities try to intervene it is claimed that the slaughtering were done for specific marriages or personal purpose,” said Adul Samad, a poultry farmer who used to be in cattle business. The beef prices are unlikely to skyrocket in South Kerala, especially due to lesser consumption. However, things will not be dependent on central Kerala which massively banks on cattle markets around Salem and Pollachi, traders said.
Not one legal abattoir in the entire district
Not just the city corporation, no municipality or panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram has legal abattoirs to cater to beef-eating citizens during this Christmas. In the neighbouring district of Kollam, the Pollution Control Board (PCB) and legal abattoirs are fighting a battle over dumping of meat waste into Ashtamudi Lake. In the capital city, the PCB had shut down the lone abattoir it 2012. Things get murkier as after 2015, health officials have not conducted major drives against stale meat stocked at illegal abattoirs. As per norms, one cannot slaughter and sell meat of cattle that have not been certified by a veterinarian. However it is common knowledge that slaughter of unhealthy animals happen at areas like Bangladesh colony, Kunjalumoodu, Vallakadavu etc.
“We have heard of Tsunami beef (stale meat from diseased animals) entering the capital but the onus to prevent this will be entirely on the Animal Husbandry department. The Corporation employs no veterinarian to certify cattle. We have not provided any option for them to legally continue cattle slaughtering. So we are not in a position to clamp down without legal consequences until we reopen the refurbished abattoir at Kunnukuzhy,” a corporation health supervisor said. Animal Husbandry K Raju minister said that checks would be intensified along borders to prevent ‘Tsunami’ beef entering the state.
