At Central, agents escape with consignment, as procedural hassles delay raid by Corporation
The Chennai Corporation on Wednesday conducted raids on trains coming from Andhra Pradesh and seized 2,130 kg of rotten meat smuggled into the city for sale. The unhygienic meat from rotting carcasses was seized from parcels transported in Circar Express from Kakinada to Egmore. “The meat was not found to be certified by a veterinary surgeon of an authorised slaughterhouse,” said an official of the Chennai Corporation.
A team of Corporation officials, with the support of railway officials, conducted the raids. However, the Railway Protection Force denied permission to another team of officials that tried to raid the Central Railway Station. This caused a delay in civic body officials reaching the Central railway station platform where a large quantity of such unhygienic products was being smuggled.
Thus, the labourers associated with the illegal trade escaped with the meat products through alternative routes and officials were unable to seize any of the rotten meat from Chennai Central. The civic body officials got permission to conduct raids in trains from senior railway officials after a few hours but were not able to trace any of the workers. Chennai Central is the hub of this illegal meat sale.
The samples of the meat products were sent to laboratory of the Meats Department of the Government Veterinary College for assessment of the microbial count. The results will be ready on Thursday, said an official.
The Chennai Corporation is planning to intensify the raids in the coming days and has obtained permission to conduct raids in trains for a week initially.
The rotten meat was destroyed at the Kodungaiyur Dumpyard by the corporation officials. Steps are being taken to identify the traders associated with the collection of carcasses in Nellore, Vijayawada and Kakinada for transportation in trains to the city.
Chennai Corporation’s health department officials have been asked to focus on anti-mortem and post-mortem inspection of animals butchered in the slaughter houses in Villivakkkam, Saidapet and Perambur. The shortage of staff for such operations too is likely to be addressed soon.
As many as 1,650 heads of cattle are slaughtered on a daily basis in the city under the supervision of veterinary surgeons of Chennai Corporation. They stamp the meat found fit for consumption. In weekend and festivals, the number of cattle slaughtered crosses 5000 in the city.
The supply points of the meat in temporary structures along the Cooum have also been traced. Some structures are located on Greams Road near Mackay’s Garden, near the offices of the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission. The low price of the unhygienic meat is a major reason for its popularity.
Well done "The Hindu" for exposing these malpractices.
Hope "The Hindu" will bring out more malpractices prevailing in our society and play the role of a responsible media house.
Persons shipping a consignment and those who receive them should provide proof of identity in order to track those who ship dangerous products. Time for fast roll up of UIDIA numbers and biometrics.
i would be a vegetarian and save myself from all these and be healthy...
Something is rotten in the state of Chennai!
"However, the Railway Protection Force denied permission to another
team of officials that tried to raid the Central Railway Station...
...Thus, the labourers associated with the illegal trade escaped with
the meat products through alternative routes and officials were unable
to seize any of the rotten meat from Chennai Central. "
How is this even rational? Does this mean all this happens under the
nose of the officials? And yet not a single person gets
booked...incredible!
Commendable report from The Hindu and kudos to the reporter. Inspite
of the backslapping of our corporation, how come none of this happens
unless somebody points all this out like this reporter?
Would there be a follow-up report to actually see how accountable our
corporation is and if there is a logical end to this operation?
Excellent! But there should definitely be a nexus between railways authorities and these traders. Without their authorization this can not go unnoticed. If not curtailed at the roots, I am sure this will start again.
good work.. the hindu
Thank You THE HINDU . May the HINDU cleanse the PDS ration shops as well
Why to eat meat? Get this straight and then no problem in life.
And all this time, when I went to pick up family from Central or take a train a fishy stench is mostly the norm. Now I wonder if this was really fish being transported or rotten meat.
Great job "The Hindu". I wish you start reporting all major issues in
the city, so that required action will be taken immediately. Shame on
the authorities for not having realized this issue so far. Anyway, its
better late than never.
COngrats to THE HINDU and Chennai City COrporation. Wonderful effort
Rotten meat is actually not a news. Many already were aware of this
and are wise enough to avoid them. Of course they'd not expose the
culprits fearing repercussions. To my knowledge people usually avoid
using beef are usually fed to their dogs. Goats are a favorite in the
regions, however, would prefer them from a known butcher or a buy the
live one and slaughter themselves. These folks are wise enough to
avoid alcohol as well as the food served there.
Though, the expose and action are to be appreciated it is likely to
die down soon enough for the culprits to restart their trade. In
India, health (of middle class and poor) was never and will never(for
decades to come) be a priority of the Govt. or the politicians and
bureaucrats. It'd be wise for the people to be cautious.
Thanks to The Hindu for alarming the people in the city also thanks to officials for performing such kind of raids. This would have caused several diseases whoever consumes this meat. Once again my sincere thanks to The Hindu.
these sort of rotten meats are most probably used in junk food stalls
This is only the tip of the iceberg. Obviously, the whole scenario is a web of corruption. Who, for example is on the take in the Railway Protection Force??
They were delaying the Corpo officials only to protect their paymasters.
Another reason not to visit the cesspit that is modern India.
Thanks for bringing this food poison issue to light. We should
appreciate the social responsibility of THE HINDU. Our official should
punish the culprits to ensure it doesn't repeat in future.
Hats off to "The Hindu". Yesterday I read an article on the illegal meat business and today I see there is action taken. Thanks, for exposing the issue and salute to the officials for conducting raids. Feel proud to be a reader of "The Hindu".
Now we know what was all those water dripping stinking parcels waiting
in the platform to be loaded. This has been going on for a long time .
OMG! see the way they pack the meat. Even fresh meat will start to rot if not kept chilled. This process will be fast higher the temperature. As the report say if the meat is from a dead sick animal it should be infested with microbes. Dont people have any basic sympathy to fellow human being who is served with this poison? How come the govt agencies not monitoring this? No whistle blower either? If not for The Hindu many would be enjoying the Ajinomoto laced poison.
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