The much-awaited Ghazipur abattoir has finally become operational. After a delay of about three years, the MCD inaugurated it on December 10. The abattoir has a capacity of slaughtering 1,500 and 3,000 animals through the jhatka and halal methods respectively on a daily basis. At present, however, only the jhatka section of the Idgah slaughterhouse has been moved to the new premises; the halal and the buffalo sections will be shifted in the coming month.Facing resistance from butchers, the abattoir managed to slaughter only four goats on Day One. The number went up to 163 on Sunday.The first of its kind in India, the slaughterhouse has been constructed using German technology that employs completely hygienic techniques for processing the meat. The entire system is mechanised, ensuring the proper disposal of animal excreta and waste body parts. The MCD also said during the trial period, 400 butchers have been trained for work at the slaughterhouse.At the Idgah slaughterhouse, the slaughtering fee was Rs 5 per animal; at the Ghazipur slaughterhouse it would cost Rs 45. MCD Commissioner K S Mehra said the corporation has been facing resistance from butchers working at the Idgah slaughterhouse who do not want to move to Ghazipur. “On Sunday, we received complaints regarding illegal slaughtering taking place at the Idgah slaughterhouse. We had filed a police complaint and also slapped a fine of Rs 15,000 on the offenders. At the Ghazipur abattoir, we will keep a check on the number of animals being slaughtered each day. The MCD will also make sure that the butchers maintain hygiene. The butchers, however, are resisting the move,” said Mehra.The Supreme Court in 2005 had directed the MCD to move the Idgah slaughterhouse to Ghazipur. After the BJP came to power last year, chairman of the MCD Standing Committee Vijendra Gupta had announced that the abattoir will move to Ghazipur in January 2008. It, however, took the MCD almost a year to finally get the slaughterhouse shifted to the new premises last week. On December 10, the MCD was also supposed to file a status report to the Supreme Court.The MCD Commissioner said the delay took place due to the contractor missing the deadline.
