Closing slaughterhouse tough job

NEW DELHI: Although the Ghazipur slaughterhouse opened on September 1 as per SC���s demand, MCD is going to have a tough time fulfilling the other demand of the apex court���s order ��� that of closing down the slaughterhouse at Idgah.
For MCD, the bad news is if Idgah closes down, not only would a large number of people be left unemployed, illegal slaughtering too would be fuelled.According to Naeem Lala, president of Sheep and Goat Broker���s Association, the biggest fear for Idgah workers is that it will take away the livelihood of thousands since the Ghazipur plant has only concentrated on the slaughtering aspect and not the allied industries.
������Idgah employs nearly 1.5 lakh people. These include livestock traders, butchers and those who work with the by-products of slaughtering ��� such as dung, hide, blood, head and legs of animals. If Idgah were to close down, thousands, nearly 80%, would be left without work and income,������ informed Lala.
Lala says the immediate impact of such large scale unemployment would be mushrooming of more illegal slaughterhouses.
������Ghazipur was built to increase the meat supply to the city and ensure it is hygienic. We are all for hygiene, but did MCD consider that illegal slaughterhouses might come up since Ghazipur anyway can���t fully supply the city���s need for meat.������ he added. For instance, while the city needs at least 4000 buffaloes per day, the Ghazipur slaughterhouse has the capacity of 500 per shift of eight hours.
Sirajuddin Qureishi, president of All India Jamiat Ul Qureish, an association of meat traders and shopkeepers, agrees with Lala���s worries. ������On a relaxed estimate, at least six months should pass before Idgah closes down. If we are forced to close down before that, we will protest,������ he added.
MCD is caught between meeting SC orders and allaying the fear of Idgah workers. A senior corporation official said: ������Idgah would be closed down as soon the Ghazipur abattoir becomes fully operational. We are duty-bound to follow the apex court���s order. Keeping the needs and fears of workers into consideration, it will be closed in 3-4 months.������
Standing committee chairman Vijender Gupta claimed there was political pressure from government against any hurried closing down of Idgah. However, when contacted, Delhi government chief secretary Rakesh Mehta denied there was pressure from their side. ������The city is preparing for the Commonwealth Games and we require hygienic meat. It is MCD���s task to carry out what the SC ordered. If they are facing operational problems then they will have to solve it on their own,������ Mehta elaborated.
(paulomi.mehta@timesgroup.com)