Littering abattoirs will invite pollution board’s wrath

Slaughter houses in the city have been a nauseating menace for quite some time now, not to mention the hygiene risk it poses to the residents.

Solid waste, particularly from livestock, is not being disposed scientifically, resulting in blood and raw flesh carelessly strewn about on the roads.

Although plans were in the pipeline to shift prime slaughter houses to Kanakapura, it did not materialise due to resistance from locals. Now the state’s pollution control board is mulling over the idea of imposing penalty on those not managing their waste.

The board has decided to seek support from the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to ensure pollution levels are under control through effective waste management.

This plan is being introduced after the success seen in biomedical waste management implemented by health institutions.

The Karnataka state pollution control board (KSPCB) chairman, AS Sadashivaiah, said that while garbage from some major slaughter houses are effectively managed, over 2500 slaughter houses located in residential areas are not.

They generate over 3000 kg of waste everyday, which is unscientifically disposed or thrown around in places.

“In these slaughter houses, live poultry is brought and slaughtered. The feathers and other parts are seen littered on the roads or disposed with other solid waste. The menace is worse during weekends,” he said.

The board has decided to create awareness among those running the slaughter houses on how to dispose waste.

“Those not abiding by the guidelines will be penalised,” he said.

“We are making an assessment on this— on how the waste generated from slaughter houses should be collected, how to maintain cleanliness, how to send the waste to units, and where it can be processed and used as animal feed. We have requested BBMP to put 450 health inspectors who may penalise those who do not manage their waste and later shut them down,” Sadashivaiah added.

Citizens of Bangalore are happy about the idea of shifting slaughter houses and educating meat stalls on waste management.

They pointed out that the stench emanating from blood and waste makes it difficult to stay or even pass by the roads.
Citing the slaughter house on Tannery Road, Ashima J, a resident, said, “They are a menace in residential areas. Though they are the nearest to buy meat from, the stench is intolerable. The entire vicinity stinks. One can also see blood oozing from the carcass, which makes the scene even more horrendous. So the slaughter houses should be shifted and the meat stalls given proper storage facilities. They should also be educated on how to dispose the waste.”

Pavithra R, a resident of Koramangala, said since they dump waste everywhere, it attracts stray dogs and creates health problems. Though the imposition of fine is a good idea, the government should ensure that it is strictly followed.

BBMP joint director (animal husbandry) Dr Parvez Ahmad Piran revealed that there are two slaughter houses in the city—one on Tannery Road and the other on Usman Khan Road.

The other places where poultry is being slaughtered, including residential areas, is illegal, and strict action will be taken on them.

“The high court has ordered the slaughter houses to be shifted to Harohalli in Kanakapura. Once it gets clearance from KSPCB and airport authority, an effluent treatment plant will be set up and the waste will be used as organic fertilisers in Hoskote,” he said.