Goa meat complex functional since May 31 this year, HC told

State-run Goa Meat Complex Limited (GMCL) has filed a compliance report before the Goa bench of Bombay High Court stating the slaughter house has been operational since May 31 after its renovation and modernisation was completed.

A division bench comprising Justices F M Reis and K L Vadhane had directed the state government and GMCL to make the abattoir functional before September 30, 2016 and file the compliance report.

GMCL is a government undertaking whose main objectives are to organise the provisions of efficient and modern hygienic facilities for slaughtering of animals in the public and private slaughter houses and to provide wholesome hygienic meat.
 

The directions were issued on a petition filed by 'Govansh Raksha Abhiyan', an NGO working for the protection of cows in the coastal state.

The compliance report submitted by GMCL Managing Director Uday Tarkar yesterday stated that "the work of modernisation and renovation for which a shutdown of the abattoir had been initiated since May 2015 was completed in March 2016.

"The requisite permission as required in law as well as keeping with the directions issued by the Supreme Court in relation to the functioning and operations of Goa meat complex (during one of the other cases) have been adhered to and obtained."

Tarkar said, "The abattoir has been completely operational since May 31, 2016 by commencing with the commercial operation of the plant."

The report mentions that "slaughtering of the animals in the abattoir is taking place in accordance with law, including the provision of the Slaughter House Rules, 2001, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1980, the Goa Daman and Diu Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1978, the Goa Animal Preservation Act, 1995 and various rules framed thereafter."

Tarkar stated that only those animals for whom the requisite certificates are obtained from the competent authority and the veterinary doctors under the provisions of Goa Animal Preservation Act, 1995 and the Slaughter House Rules, 2001 are slaughtered at the abattoir.