Bisma Bhat
Srinagar, Jan 1: The city has one slaughter house catering to a small number of around 3,000 sheep butchered daily.
According to the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Act 2000, no place other than a slaughter house can be used for slaughtering animals in the city.
An SMC official said there were around 600-700 butchers in the city, who slaughter animals on their own.
The lone slaughter house in the city is located at Rainawari in old city. It is a very small and old, with capacity only for 30-40 sheep.
People in Srinagar complain that there is no check on the hygiene and health condition of the animals.
Mohammad Ashraf, a resident of old city Nawa Bazar, said he purchased meat from a butcher at Nawa Kadal and later came to know that the animal had been pregnant.
“There is no check on what kind of cattle are being slaughter by these butchers,” he said.
Another consumer, Basharat Ahmad, said, “We never know what kind of meat are been sold on shops. There is no guarantee of the quality of the meat.”
He said two years earlier SMC had said that they will provide enough slaughter houses in the city.
“Yet, no such facility has come up in Srinagar,” Basharat said.
Speaking to The Kashmir Monitor, Veterinary Officer SMC, Dr Javaid Rather, said, “Yes, there is only one small slaughter house in the entire Srinagar city but very soon city will be having the biggest slaughter house.”
Javaid said another slaughter house would be constructed on 32 kanal of land at Alluchi Bagh in uptown.
“All types of modern techniques will be used to check quality of the sheep, and it will work under the laws and provisions of SMC.”
He said that until and unless the modern slaughter house will be constructed they cannot restrict the butchers from selling meat.
“Whenever we receive complain against any person selling bad quality meat, we shut down his shop and fine him.”
