On Day 1, only 11 goats slaughtered at abattoir

NEW DELHI: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi���s claims that the Ghazipur slaughterhouse became functional on Monday need to be taken with a pinch of salt. A corporation official disclosed that on the first day, a mere 11 goats were slaughtered and the buffalo slaughtering section has not yet become functional.
In hastily making the abattoir functional on Monday, the MCD has technically complied with the Supreme Court���s September 1 deadline, but the troubles plaguing the abattoir are far from over.
Despite the better quality and efficiency of the Ghazipur abattoir, the 200-year-old Idgah slaughterhouse is still preferred by city���s butchers and also supplies a good part of the city���s meat requirement. Unless Idgah closes down, Ghazipur is not likely to become a success.
But the word is that, Idgah cannot be closed down so easily. ������People obviously prefer the slaughterhouse they are used to. We have trained around 150 butchers to use the new machines at Ghazipur. We are even going to pay Rs 400 per day to every butcher who comes and works here. This will be an incentive,������ said an MCD official who did not wish to be named. MCD has also decided to provide free transport of animals from Idgah to Ghazipur as another incentive.
It is therefore not surprising that in an affidavit in the SC, the MCD has said that Idgah will be closed down only gradually. ������It will have to be done in a phased manner since many are likely to lose their jobs,������ the official added.
In July, the SC had set September 1 as the deadline for the abattoir. At that time, the corporation had asked for six more months before the slaughterhouse became functional citing inadequate facilities and opposition from meat traders which could lead to a law and order problem. As of now, the Rs 113-crore Ghazipur slaughterhouse would remain closed on Tuesdays.
The Ghazipur slaughterhouse had weathered many controversies about delays in the run up to its completion. Initially, the project was supposed to be complete by 2005. Disagreements over costing had ensued between the contractor, Food Processing Equipments Company Pvt Ltd and the corporation which had lead to delays.
paulomi.mehta@timesgroup.com