Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 1: The issue of setting aside huge funds for development of slaughterhouse at Kudroli in the city gave rise to din in the general session of the city corporation council here on Wednesday October 31.

While the ruling Congress party justified its action of developing the slaughterhouse at an expenditure of Rs 15 crore, BJP opposed the proposal tooth and nail. Most of the time of the session was consumed by this issue.

At the outset, BJP corporator, Sudheer Shetty Kannur, pointed out that as per the high court order, slaughterhouses cannot function within the city limits. He also noted that Karnataka State Pollution Control Board had ordered to close down this slaughterhouse, which is being operated without a valid permission even now. He said that he and his party is not opposed to slaughterhouse but that they are opposing the initiative undertaken by the district in-charge minister in getting Rs 15 crore sanctioned for its development.

Questions also are being raised on how the minister directly recommended to the Smart City Limited chairman and managing director to allocate ten crore rupees for the slaughterhouse development. Citizens are curious to know why so much money is needed for the slaughterhouse that stands on less than 50 cents of land. How this amount was enhanced to Rs 15 crore is a secret. BJP says that the minister has thrown rules to the winds in sending his recommendations directly to the chairman and director of Smart City Limited.

Sudheer Shetty also said that a detailed project report by spending ten lac rupees was prepared to construct the slaughterhouse outside the city and therefore demanded it to be shifted. Roopa D Bangera also said that the slaughterhouse needs to be shifted as it is currently located near Kudroli temple. Vijay Kumar Shetty questioned who is responsible for illegal slaughter of animals at the slaughterhouse, which came out in the open by the information provided under RTI act.

Deepak Poojary of the ruling party said that because of improper facilities at the slaughterhouse now, effluents along with large quantities of cattle blood flows everyday and therefore felt that it should be modernized. Corporators like Mahabala Marla and Shashidhar Hegde strongly came in support of the slaughterhouse.

When the city mayor said that that the slaughterhouse needs to be developed and it would be undertaken under smart city project, and also that the slaughterhouse would be shifted once land is made available, BJP corporators questioned the rationale of spending Rs 15 crore for devleopment of a project that is bound to be shifted.