Mumbai: Bad news is on its way for meat lovers as mutton rates in Mumbai’s markets may soon shoot up. As per a new Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) proposal, service rates at the Deonar abattoir are set to be raised by 25 per cent. As a spill-over effect, the market rates of mutton may soon go up as well, to compensate for the few extra rupees that sellers would have to shell out to acquire this particular meat.
Dr Yogesh Shete, the general manager of the abattoir, said, “We have increased service rates by Rs 5 to Rs 10 on every service. This has been done to keep up with the hike in the price of commodities such as water, electricity and fodder for the animals when we keep them in the abattoir. I cannot comment on whether this will affect market rates of the meat.”
Dr Shete was alluding, for example, to the service rate of slaughtering one animal going up from Rs 20 to Rs 25. This is the first time since 2010 that service rates at the Deonar abattoir are being revised. The last revision had led to a considerable increase in the market prices of meat. Dr Shete, however, pointed out, “When we revised service rates in 2010, market rates for meat were at Rs 250 per kg, and in the past six years, these have shot up even more to Rs 430 per kg, even though service rates have not been altered. It would be unfair to link a hike in market rates with the revision of service rates.”
About 15 kg of meat is extracted after one animal is slaughtered at the abattoir. Considering a 25-per cent hike in service rates, mutton prices are estimated to increase by approximately Rs 10 per kg, according to meat sellers. Shoab Ali Khan, who sells meat at a small shop near Mahalaxmi, said, “I do not understand this government business. But if I have to pay even Rs 50 more to get meat, I will have to increase the cost of the meat I sell to recover transport costs as well.”
