Lucknow: Even as people going ballistic over news of slaughterhouses coming under the radar of Uttar Pradesh authorities, what the government is doing is simply enforcing rules regarding slaughter and transport of animals, a TOI report said.
These rules were hardly wielded by municipal corporations till now.
And the government's move to take action against illegal slaughterhouses and meat shops that have been running in the state is based on years-old laws.
It is believed that the municipal corporations hardly bothered to implement these laws seriously.
Under the Uttar Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1959, it is a mandatory service of local bodies to provide fresh and hygienic meat to people while ensuring construction and regulation of slaughterhouse within city limits.
Sections 421 to 430 lay down rules for functioning of a slaughterhouse, sale of animals and control of private slaughterhouses.
As most established slaughterhouses and meat shops were running without licence, a big meat crisis has rupted in the state now that rules have been enforced by the newly-formed government.
According to Nagar Palika Parishads, around 140 slaughterhouses and over 50,000 meat shops were running illegally in Uttar Pradesh under the nose of officials as no one cared to follow the norms.
In the last one week, the Uttar Pradesh government over 100 illegal slaughterhouses and hundreds of unauthorised butcher shops have been shut down in the state.
In Lucknow alone, around 1,000 illegal shops were operating. Of these, 200 have been closed by Lucknow Municipal Corporations this week. Several other meatsellers have shut shop in fear of being interrogated and punished by the authorities for running their business illegally.
It is to be noted that actions were taken against only those meat shops, which were running without the orders of the Municipal Commissioner and without valid documents.
Times of India quotted a UPPCB official saying, "The system has failed as neither butchers take the pains to seek a licence nor are officials conscious of their duties. All municipal bodies should construct a slaughterhouse as per Slaughter House Rules 2001, but UP has failed in doing so."
