Cows in a slaughterhouse. (Image for representation)
Credit: iStock Photo
Mangaluru: Though the slaughterhouse managed by the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) at Kudroli has been closed four years ago following an order by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), a surprise visit by Mangaluru Mayor Manoj Kumar on Friday discovered another illegal slaughterhouse operating on a private land adjacent to the closed abattoir.
The waste of slaughtered goats, cattle, sheep were found scattered in a room on an illegal building adjacent to a closed slaughterhouse. The MCC has not given any permission to run a slaughterhouse, said the Mayor to DH.
Following public complaints regarding illegal animalslaughter operating at the Kudroli slaughterhouse, Mayor Manoj Kumar accompanied by Deputy Mayor Bhanumathi, Town Planning Standing Committee Chairperson Veena Mangala, Health Standing Committee Chairperson Sumitra Kariya, and corporators Manohar Shetty and Jayalakshmi Shetty paid a surprise visit.
While checking the building standing on the private land, the team noticed heaps of severed heads and parts of slaughtered animals in a room. The entire area reeked of a nauseating smell with swarms of flies covering the remains of the animals.
The Mayor also directed officials to take action against illegal structures where such slaughterhouses are operating.
Though the frontside of the private building was open, the rear section was locked. As none responded on the key to open the door, the Mayor and other corporation officials broke open the lock with a stone and entered the premises, to discover parts of slaughtered animals, weighing scales, meat hooks, and others.
The Mayor said that following the closure of the slaughterhouse at Kudroli, the city did not have any government-run abattoir. The new building is being built at Kudroli as per the directions of the NGT. The NGT has directed the MCC to treat the waste water at the slaughterhouse before discharging it into the drains. In accordance with these directives, a new building is under construction with the necessary supporting infrastructure, Manoj Kumar stated.
MLA Dr Bharath Shetty Y appreciated Mayor Manoj Kumar and the MCC officials for uncovering the illegal cow slaughter centre.
"There is no doubt that if the police, who take strict action against robbers by opening fire, adopt a similar approach against illegal cow transporters, such activities will automatically decrease," he said.
"During the BJP government regime, steps were taken to attach the properties of those engaged in slaughtering of cattle. However, the Congress government has ignored cases of cow slaughter, leading to the resurgence of slaughterhouses," alleged the MLA.