Despite a one-year-old plan to upgrade the Deonar abattoir, which at present is responsible for at least half of the city’s meat requirements, there are several problems that the authorities are facing, including sinking land levels, inadequate refrigeration facilities for storing meat and unscientific disposal of animal waste.
The abattoir is not currently equipped to handle the flow of sacrificial animals.
Samajwadi Party corporator Rais Shaikh said, “During the period of Id, more than 3.5 lakh goats arrive at the Deonar abattoir, which are expected to be sacrificed. But the abattoir is in a dismal state and needs an upgrade immediately.”
Mr Shaikh added: “I have been fighting for better facilities at the Deonar slaughterhouse, especially during Bakri Id. The main shades in the slaughterhouse have been reconstructed. The BMC, in principle, has also accepted a demand to modernise the slaughterhouse and consultants have been appointed for the same. The modernisation of the abattoir would be a Rs 350-crore project.”
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials at Deonar said, “Yes, there is a refrigeration problem, but it will be sorted out soon. There are plans to modernise the abattoir according to international standards. A thorough plan for upgrading the abattoir is being formulated, and it would involve the use of meat processing technology and animal holding cells.”
At present, workers at the slaughterhouse operate in a single shift, with almost 3,000 goats and sheep, 250 buffaloes and 250 pigs being processed. But even though Mumbaikars’ demand for meat has almost doubled, the civic body is taking time to upgrade the existing facility.
