Action part of crackdown on pollution, illegal slaughter and cruelty to animals
The Haryana Pollution Control Board (HPCB) has closed 41 slaughter houses in the state for not installing effluent treatment plants. This was announced at the first meeting of the recently appointed state-level committee on slaughter houses held in Chandigarh. The committee is headed by the principal secretary of urban local bodies department.
The state has a total of 43 slaughter houses, and only two are operational now after the crackdown.
The Haryana state government had recently constituted a state committee for slaughter houses. It also set up district committees for slaughter houses under deputy commissioners in all districts.
"The objective of the committee is to identify slaughter houses in the state, to recommend modernization of old slaughter houses and to shift those which are located within or in close proximity to a residential area. It will also give recommendations for improvement of slaughter houses and stopping illegal slaughter," said an official of the state pollution control board.
Both the state and district level committees will recommend appropriate measures to deal with solid waste, air and water pollution, and for preventing cruelty to the animals meant for slaughter. They will also regularly carry out surprise and random inspections of slaughter houses, and issue directions for compliance of recommendations that the committees may make.
With the aid of the district magistrate and other law enforcement agencies, the committees will identify and crack down on unlicenced slaughter houses and other similar smaller establishments in the region. The use of child workers at these establishments, too, will be considered.
State committee member Naresh Kadyan says that illegal slaughtering is prevalent, and rules framed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act are not being implemented properly.
The next meeting will take place in two month’s time to review all actions taken.
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