The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday imposed a ban on illegal slaughter houses in Uttar Pradesh and directed State authorities to ensure that meat shops are properly regulated.
A Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said slaughter houses which do not have permission from the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) and/or environmental clearance from State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) besides permission from local authorities will not be allowed to operate either in open or from shops.
“Uttar Pradesh, UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), Nagar palikas, corporations and all other public authorities shall fully ensure that no illegal and unauthorised slaughter houses are permitted to operate,” the Bench said.
The Tribunal made it clear that slaughter houses in Ghaziabad, Hapur and Meerut, which operate either in open or from shops, will be permitted to function only if they have consent to operate.
Illegal extraction of water
It also directed Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) to ensure that there is no illegal extraction of water by these slaughter houses in these three districts.
The Bench asked UPPCB to constitute a committee which will issue to small shops certificates on quarterly basis permitting them to slaughter very limited number of animals.
It also directed the concerned public authorities to ensure that there is a proper regulation of meat shops and appropriate measures are taken for hygiene and healthcare.
Earlier, the Tribunal had said that animal waste shall not be thrown in the municipal drains or any part of the streets or roads in Ghaziabad, Hapur and Meerut.
“Animal waste should be collected, transported and disposed of strictly in accordance with the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000,” it had said.
The directions came while hearing a plea by environment activist Krishankant Singh Hoon, filed through advocate Rahul Choudhary, who had sought directions to stop functioning of unauthorised slaughter houses in U.P.
It had also claimed that these slaughter houses were disposing of their wastes illegally violating environmental laws.
