Meat sellers up in arms over crackdown on illegal abattoirs

Meat sellers in Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar met with the district administrations over the lack of legal slaughterhouses in both districts. Speaking to DNA shopkeepers said that after the crackdown of the state government, slaughterhouses in Ghazipur have also stopped giving meat to shopkeepers of UP-NCR.

It is estimated that nearly 1,000 shops in Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad have been affected by the crackdown of the Uttar Pradesh government on illegal slaughterhouses. As a result, most of the local shops have remained shut.

"To add to our woes, Ghazipur slaughter house has also refused to give us meat. Post the ban, meat demand in Delhi has gone up as everybody from UP-NCR are running to Delhi," said Daud who used to supply animals in UP-NCR.

Shopowners too have raised their issues but they say it is all in vain. "Since there is no slaughter house in Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad, there is no point of obtaining a licence. Even after paying bribe, if we obtain one, it will be wasteful for us as it does not permit slaughtering at shops," said Mohd Akram, a shopkeeper.

A senior administrative official, requesting anonymity said, "The government's intention is clear; they want to close illegal slaughter houses."

...and analysis

While the government's crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses is laudable there must be some thought given by the state government to help safeguard the livelihood of meat sellers