Goa may face beef shortage; meat traders blame NGO

Goa may face beef shortage as the supply of cattle from neighbouring Karnataka to the state-run Goa Meat Complex Limited (GMCL) has stopped since October 10, apparently due to some technical issue.
However, meat traders in the coastal state have blamed an NGO for the shortage of cattle apart from technicalities.
The GMCL provides slaughtering facility to traders who transport cattle from the neighbouring state.
A GMCL official said traders are not being able to transport cattle to the facility since October 10 due to a technical issue.
"There has been an issue with the certificate that is usually given for allowing transportation of cattle from Karnataka. There is some technical issue in that certificate due to which cattle could not be brought (to GMCL) since October 10," the official told PTI today.

Though he said that the government is looking into the issue, beef traders have sought the intervention of the administration into the matter.

A delegation of meat traders called on State Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai yesterday at his residence.
"Cattle brought for slaughtering were taken away by the NGO, Goa Animal Welfare Board, and they are being kept in a 'gau shala' (cow shelter)," claimed Quareshi Meat Traders Association president Manna Bepari.
He said Goa will soon face shortage of beef as cattle cannot be transported from Karnataka whereas its import from other neighbouring states is restricted.
"We bring cattle in Goa while conforming to the legal procedure. But that process too has stopped due to the NGO," he said.

According to sources, the NGO had raised the technicalities pertaining to the certificate with the state government.
State Animal Husbandry department officials refused to comment on the issue.
Officials of the NGO cannot be contacted.