UP Meat Producers Mull Legal Options Against Ban on Abattoirs

After immense losses in the three months following demonetisation, this would only add to the industry’s woes.

A butcher cuts up portions of meat for sale in an abattoir at a wholesale market. Representational image. (Photo: Reuters)

As the Adityanath Yogi government goes after mechanised slaughterhouses, meat producers in Uttar Pradesh say the action conflicts with the Centre's policy of encouraging the meat industry and are considering going to court against it.

The Centre has been encouraging the meat industry and the food processing ministry too provides aid of up to 50 percent to support them. But the UP government has ordered a ban on all mechanised slaughterhouses.

Senior Official, All India Meat and Livestock Exporters Association

"It is in contravention to the Central government policy", the functionary, who wished not to be named, said.

He said that Uttar Pradesh accounts for nearly 50 percent of India's total meat exports and such a decision would affect the livelihood of 25 lakh people directly or indirectly.

‘We Support Banning Illegal Abattoirs, But Not All Mechanised Ones’

Also Read: Thousands Feel the Blow as Yogi Govt Moves to Shut Slaughterhouses

The association "supports banning illegal abattoirs", but opposes the move to shut down all the mechanised ones, he said.

If the state government brings an ordinance in this regard, the association would approach the court, he said.

We are keeping a close watch on the developments and will wait. An organised industry should not be dealt with in this manner.

Senior Official, All India Meat and Livestock Exporters Association

Huge Losses for Industry Since Demonetisation

In the past three months, the industry has suffered huge losses due to demonetisation and the closure of mechanised slaughterhouses will add to the woes, he added.

As per estimates, the country exports meat products worth Rs 26,685 crore annually and with the closure of slaughterhouses in UP it will come down to half, the association functionary lamented.

In its pre-poll manifesto, the BJP had said that if voted to power, it would shut all the illegal slaughterhouses and impose a blanket ban on mechanised abattoirs. And immediately after assuming office, the Adityanath government has gone after such abattoirs with full gusto.

Also Read: Meat Shops Set Ablaze in Hathras in Uttar Pradesh

Teams across Uttar Pradesh are inspecting slaughterhouses and several of them have been shut down. According to reports, a slaughterhouse belonging to a relative of former BSP MP Haji Shahid Akhlaq and one belonging to another BSP leader Haji Yakub Qureshi were closed down in Meerut on Wednesday.

Many others too faced action across the state.

Referring to the Centre's policy of encouraging the meat industry, the functionary of the All India Meat and Livestock Exporters Association said that the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industry envisages a grant of 50 percent of the cost of plant and machinery and technical civil work and other eligible items subject to a maximum of Rs 15 crore per abattoir in general areas.

It is 75 percent of the cost in areas like North-eastern states, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Integrated Tribal Development notified areas of the states.

UP Chief Secretary Rahul Bhatnagar said on Wednesday:

The priority of the state government is to close the illegal slaughterhouses in the state, and at the same time put a blanket ban on all the mechanised slaughterhouses.

He had directed the officials posted in various districts to inspect the slaughterhouses.