Highest mutton-consuming J&K has no abattoir

Jammu and Kashmir may be the only state which doesn’t have a single abattoir, raising serious concerns about the quality of mutton supplied to the consumers.

This startling revelation has come from state human rightscommission (SHRC) in a case of supply of unhygienic food items againstdivisional commissioner Kashmir, commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation(SMC) and director Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD).

   

According to the figures of All Kashmir Wholesale MuttonDealers Association (AKWMDA), annually there is a consumption of around Rs 2000crore worth mutton in the state.

“Around 90 tons of mutton are consumed in Kashmir daily,”said general secretary AKWMDA, Mehrajuddin Ganaie. 

Kashmir, as per AKWMDA, imports mutton of Rs 1800 crore,while mutton of Rs 200 crore is managed indigenously.

“The commission has noticed that there are no slaughterhouses in the state of J&K. Slaughter houses are required in urban andrural areas of the state in accordance with the law. The state is having veryhigh consumption of mutton and it is surprising that state has no slaughterhouses. Under law it is not permissible to slaughter animals at public placesas it is a health hazard. Before making recommendations in the matter, thecommission would like to know the response of the chief secretary. Thecommission hopes that chief secretary will address the issue so that there isno need for this commission to make any recommendation in the matter,” readsthe order issued by the commission.

Earlier, the compliance report presented by SMC before thecommission in the case stated: “Presently Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC)runs one “service slaughter house” under the supervision of veterinary officerof the corporation. It is situated at Rainawari and caters to the demand oflocal butchers of the area only. There are about 15 butchers in this ward ofthe city who slaughter their sheep and goat in the said slaughter house”.

The SMC in its report said that an abattoir is coming up atAllochibagh locality of Srinagar, which will have capacity of slaughtering 5000animals daily.

“Due to the non-availability of abattoir or modern slaughter house, butchers across the city slaughter their animals within their residential places where on an average around 4 to 5 small animals are slaughtered daily by each butcher,” reads the report.

UBEER NAQUSHBANDI

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