The Ernakulam District Collector’s stand that secretaries of local bodies would be proceeded against for failure to curb illegal slaughtering of animals has not gone done well with the Kochi Corporation.
Coming out against the statement by District Collector M.G. Rajamanickam made at the District Development Committee meeting on Saturday, Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany said that the collector should acquaint himself with the social realities before making such statements.
“No one is against curbing the illegal slaughtering of animals in the city. If the administration is serious about its stand, then it should also act against the officials of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board for failing to curb such activities, too,” Mr. Chammany said.
Most of the city residents are non-vegetarians and they need to be provided quality meat for consumption. An abattoir owned by the local body is functioning at Kaloor and steps are being taken for setting up one more facility, he said.
Any attempt to book cases against the secretary of the local body in relation to the functioning of the abattoirs related to illegal slaughtering would demoralise the officials and upset the democratic process of civic administration, he said.
The District Collector had suggested strict action against the illegal slaughtering of animals on roads and other public places, when the issue was brought to the notice by a legislator at the meeting.
Mr. Chammany pointed out that besides the Kochi Corporation, the State government also had responsibility to establish abattoirs in the State.
On its part, the local body is moving ahead with a proposal to set up a modern abattoir at West Kochi.
Some private entrepreneurs have come forward for establishing the facility and the local body may consider Build Operate and Transfer mode for the unit, said Mr. Chammany.
Responding to the statement of the district collector, some senior officials of the civic administration said that the local body didn’t get much support from the law enforcement agencies, including police, for curbing the illegal business that was thriving in many parts of the city. All that the official can do is to file a complaint with the police when such practices come to their notice.
It’s the police who have to book case against the offenders as the civic officials cannot personally close down such units or act against the offenders, an official said.
