Haridwar passes raw meat ban ahead of Ardh Kumbh

Haridwar: The Haridwar Municipal Corporation board has approved a proposal to ban the sale of raw meat across its entire municipal limits ahead of the Ardh Kumbh Mela scheduled next year. The move comes days after TOI reported, citing mayor Kiran Jaisal, that “such a decision was in the offing”. Under existing bylaws, the sale and consumption of meat, liquor and eggs are already prohibited within a 5-km radius of Har Ki Pauri, the city’s main bathing ghat. The latest resolution extends this restriction across the entire municipal area, officials said on Monday.

Around 56 shops have been constructed in the Sarai area on the outskirts, where meat sellers are proposed to be relocated. However, no final decision has been taken on restaurants and hotels serving cooked non-vegetarian food, with the issue set to be discussed in future meetings, an official said.

The proposal was not without dissent. While some residents welcomed the move as a step towards a cleaner city, councillors from Jwalapur raised concerns. During a board meeting on Monday, independent councillor Ahsan Ansari flagged livelihood issues, noting that the ban could affect over 100 businesses. He also pointed to the mismatch between the number of affected meat sellers and the limited number of shops and questioned the feasibility of relocating markets far from existing demand centres, particularly near municipal boundaries.

Mayor Jaisal termed the move a “landmark achievement”, adding that concerns raised by councillors would be addressed. Municipal commissioner Nandan Kumar said the bylaws would be notified through a gazette publication, after which objections would be invited and heard. He added that an open auction of shops in Sarai village would follow.

The municipal board also approved new rules on livestock and pet management, making registration mandatory for those keeping more than five milch animals within municipal limits. Pet dog registration has also been made compulsory, with penalties for keeping banned breeds.