Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (KD/RD)

Bangalore, Aug 25: The High Court (HC) has admitted one more public interest litigation (PIL), challenging the Karnataka State Population Control Board (KSPCB)’s action in revoking the closure order, issued against slaughter house/abattoir that was being run near a residential area in Mangalore.

A petition was filed by Gosamrakshana Samithi, Urva, a suburb of Mangalore, in Dakshina Kannada district.  According to the petition, Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) had set up a slaughter house in the residential area at Kudroli. It was alleged that the effluents of the abattoir was released into the Gurpur River.  KSPCB had issued orders during April 2005, to close the abattoir on the grounds that its functioning in a populated area was causing health hazards besides it polluting the water bodies.

However MCC undertook to shift the unit to a suitable place in Alape village and sought permission to run it, until it was done. Despite the closure order being revoked by KSPCB on Sept 20, 2006, MCC continues with illegal slaughtering and release of the effluents, without taking any serious steps to shift the unit, informed the PIL.

The petition was admitted by the HC bench for hearing, while HC served notices to state government, KSPCB, MCC and deputy commission of DK.