What could have been a unified move to fight the unhygienic condition of Kaloor slaughter house, has turned out to be murky affair between two official bodies.
Based on a complaint, District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth visited the slaughter house on Wednesday morning. After inspection, he expressed his disgust at the prevailing unhygienic condition and decided to call a meeting with the Corporation officials.
The District Collector who conducted the inspection said that necessary directives would be given to the Corporation.
“There is a plan to launch a blood treatment plant at the slaughter house with the help of District Suchitwa Mission. Discussions are on in this regard,” he said. A joint meeting is also being planned in which representatives of the Corporation, Suchitwa Mission and district administration will take part, he said.
However, turning down the proposal, Mayor Tony Chammany termed the visit as an encroachment upon the administrative terrain of the Corporation. The Mayor expressed his strong displeasure at the inspection of the Corporation-run Kaloor slaughter house. Speaking to City Express, he said, “the Collector has transgressed the administrative limits and encroached upon the administrative terrain of the Corporation”. He also said the Corporation was not interested in pursuing the suggestions put forth by the Collector to jointly tackle the issue.
However, with the onset of monsoon, the condition of the slaughter house worsened.
GREENS PROTEST: Meanwhile, the green groups are planning to strengthen their protest against the apathy of the authorities in resolving the issue. Thannerthada Samrakshana Samithi will launch an indefinite strike at Kochi Corporation next week, demanding the closure of the slaughter house. As the first phase of the protest a token strike was held at the slaughter house on Wednesday. Thannerthada Samrashana Samithi leader Rajagopal said the slaughter house issue has already witnessed public ire in the past. “Even after a number of protests were held and complaints made, the civic authorities have not taken a single step to solve the issue. So the samithi is planning to organise a mass movement. NGOs, green groups and local residents will take part.
There is no proper mechanism for collection and disposal of waste. “The slaughter waste is being dumped directly into the Perandoor Canal which blocks the water flow,” he said.
The protesters have demanded that the slaughter house be moved away from its present location.
Corporation councilor Gracy Joseph said that civic body has taken a decision to shift the slaughterhouse to another place. It will be shifted once the land is acquired, she said.