Following Uttar Pradesh government’s action against illegal slaughter houses, the Jharkhand government on Monday asked for the closure of illegal abattoirs within 72 hours.
A Times of India report on Tuesday said that the governments of Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have also followed suit.
“Three meat shops were sealed in Haridwar, 11 were shut in Raipur and one in Indore,” said the report.
In Jaipur, the civil corporation will clamp down on around 4,000 illegal meat shops from April. Out of the 4,000 shops, 950 were provided with a license to operate, but the documents have not been renewed since March 2016 due to non-issuance of a gazette notification over increase in license cost.
Haridwar SSP Krishna Kumar VK told The Times of India: “The action (against three meat shops) is being taken on complaints by some people's representatives, especially in view of Navratra. While meat shops without licences will face action, those operating them legally with valid documents will not be harassed.”
Meanwhile, Jharkhand’s Principal Secretary (Home) SKG Rahate wrote to all deputy commissioners, senior superintendents of police, superintendents of police, municipalities and notified area committees on Monday to take steps for closure of illegal abattoirs.
Stating that notice must be issued to all illegal slaughterhouses for closing operations within 72 hours, the letter asked the officials not to allow any illegal abattoirs to operate within their jurisdictions.
Rahate also said that valid slaughterhouses must ensure compliance of the rules and regulations laid down by the Animal Husbandry Department and Health Department.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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