KMC health officials said that they were considering the demand of beef dealers but the biggest impediment to it was the working hours for employees.
In a bid to check unauthorised slaughtering of cows in the city, members of the beef dealers’ association had suggested certain measures to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) authorities to stop the illegal slaughtering of cows.
“Cows are slaughtered locally at many Muslim-dominated areas of the city, early in the morning, and sold at a premium during the day because they are fresh. At the state-controlled slaughter house, cows are slaughtered between 1 pm and 5 pm and delivered to shops till late into the night. The meat is then sold the next day. We are in talks with KMC officials and have suggested that if cows can be slaughtered at 5 am and by 10 am the place will be cleared and meat delivered at outlets across the city on the same day. That way illegal slaughtering can be controlled,” Md Ali, president, Calcutta Beef Dealers’ Association told DNA.
He said that during festivals like Durga Puja, Chhat Puja and Eid, they are asked to slaughter cows in the morning to keep the evenings free from meat transportation. “If that is made the norm then there would not be any need to make separate rules during festivals,” he said.
KMC health officials said that they were considering the demand of beef dealers but the biggest impediment to it was the working hours for employees. “It will be very difficult to get manpower that early in the morning but we are looking into it if a solution can be arrived at,” said a senior health official of KMC.
Other than the 300 cows and oxen that are slaughtered at the Tangra Slaughter House, an equal number is slaughtered at places such as Raja Bazar, Mehendi Bagan, Narkeldanga, Phoolbagan and Alimuddiin Street to meet the demand for beef among the people of Kolkata.
Sellers at illegal beef shops said they were optimistic about the development. “It will be good for us. We have demand for fresh beef here and if we can get those directly from the abattoirs then why would we slaughter animals here?” said a 30-plus beef seller at Alimuddin Street, on condition of anonymity.
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