Ban all unauthorised slaughterhouses in UP, says NGT

The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday imposed a ban on all illegal slaughterhouses in Uttar Pradesh and directed state authorities to ensure there is proper regulation of meat shops.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said slaughterhouses which do not have permission from UP Pollution Control Board and/or environmental clearance from State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority besides permissions from local authorities will not be allowed to operate either in open or shops.

“Uttar Pradesh, UP Pollution Control Board, nagar palikas, corporations and all other public authorities shall fully ensure that no illegal and unauthorised slaughterhouses are permitted to operate,” the bench said.

The green panel made it clear that slaughterhouses in Ghaziabad, Hapur and Meerut, which operate either in open or shops, will be permitted to function only if they have consent to operate.

The tribunal also directed Central Ground Water Authority to ensure that there is no illegal extraction of water by these slaughterhouses in these three districts. The bench asked UPPCB to constitute a committee which will issue to small shops certificates on quaterly basis permitting them to slaughter very limited number of animals.

It also directed the concerned public authorities to ensure that there is a proper regulation of meat shops and appropriate measures are taken for hygiene and healthcare.

Earlier, the tribunal had said animal waste shall not be thrown in the municipal drains or any part of the streets or roads in Ghaziabad, Hapur and Meerut.

“Animal waste should be collected, transported and disposed of strictly in accordance with The Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000. All municipal councils or corporations should ensure and take effective steps to install rendering plants to utilise and dispose of animal waste and carcasses to prevent pollution of the environment,” it had said.

The directions came while hearing a plea by environment activist Krishankant Singh Hoon, filed through advocate Rahul Choudhary, who had sought directions to stop functioning of unauthorised slaughterhouses in UP.

It had also claimed that these slaughterhouses were disposing their wastes illegally violating environmental laws.