After crackdown on trains, lorries from Andhra Pradesh serve as conduit; 1,100 kg beef seized
Rotten carcasses continue to find their way into the city. Undeterred by crackdown, smugglers have devised new ways to transport illegal meat.
On Thursday, the police seized 1,100 kg of meat transported in a lorry from Andhra Pradesh. The lorry bearing registration number AP-26 TA2376 was intercepted by the police on Dr. Ambedkar College Road around 4.30 a.m. on Thursday. They grew suspicious during routine questioning and decided to inspect the packages in the lorry.
The police found ten packets of rotten meat which had been smuggled in from Nellore via road. Soon, officials of the Chennai Corporation’s health department reached the spot and analysed the samples. The meat was of inferior quality and making its way to shops and eateries in the city.
The lorry driver confessed to having smuggled the meat for a city trader, Gajendran of Chintadripet. The corporation officials lodged a police complaint against Gajendran.
Earlier in September, the civic body had cracked down on business units in the city found smuggling carcasses from Nellore, Vijayawada and Kakinada in trains. Chennai Central and Egmore stations were the hubs of this illegal trade.
Even as the Corporation’s health department focuses on anti-mortem and post-mortem inspection of animals butchered in the three slaughter houses at Villivakkkam, Saidapet and Perambur, carcasses smuggled via road continue to escape scrutiny.
Low price of spoilt meat continues to be the major reason for this thriving trade. Mutton, beef and chicken sold at establishments that indulge in this trade cost 40 per cent to 60 per cent less than authorised meat.
The carcasses seized by civic body officials on Thursday were destroyed at the Kodungaiyur dumping yard. So far, 15.36 tonnes of rotten meat have been smuggled into the city. Five business units in the city were sealed.
Keywords: rotten meat, smugglers, shops and eateries
The rotten meat in the market is a serious issue. The non-veg should be sell only in the licensed shop. The health department must take the necessary action by frequently visiting and auditing the shop.
The department official should check the quality of the meat regularly.If they found rotten immediate step should be taken by cancelling the licence of the shop and banning them from further marketing.
Many public People are frustrated by buying the meat and health affected due to the few selfish money minded businessmen.
While tonnes and tonnes of illegal meat find their way to the city through rail and road networks its surprising that the police department is not acting in the way it should have.Of course the corporation had stepped up operations to seize and raid the rotten meat from going to eateries and other places, still its efforts leaves a lot to be desired. As on today more than 15 tonnes of illegal meat has come to the city from Rajasthan and AP.The corporation has to rein in the railway authorities so that this illegality could be traced and ultimately stopped from their points of origin. Many diseases are associated with meat eating.The animals to be slaughtered are tortured and abused.Meat production accounts for more than 18% of global greenhouse emissions.Farms stuff antibiotics & steroids,the slaughtered animals are sprayed with colorings and tenderizers.Supermarket meat meant for restaurant and households contain toxic pink slime and meat glue.
One more reason to turn vegetarian!
FDI is good for India . The roadside shop owners are crying , their business affected , but buying meat from roadside shop cant guarantee your health .
FDI is for the people who want to buy genuine products and healthy living.
The meat may have become rotten because it was not transported in
refrigerated vehicles. There has been fantastic modern developments in
India, but refrigerated trucks are one of the missing items on road,
like in advanced countries. Government and businessmen have to focus
their attention on this. Metros exploding with population need the
commodities and if people arrange to supply it from somewhere, it not
only helps the common man but also works for price stabilization.
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