The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the Kochi Corporation to file an affidavit in response to a writ petition seeking a directive to take urgent steps to shift the existing abattoir from Kaloor.
Justice P.V. Asha issued the directive when a petition filed by Kaloor Joseph came up for hearing.
The petitioner pointed out that untreated solid and liquid waste from the slaughterhouse was being dumped into the Thevara-Perandoor canal causing difficulties to the public.
The slaughterhouse, owned and operated by the Corporation, is located in a thickly populated area. The petitioner had made several representations for shifting the slaughterhouse but no positive action was taken.
The State Pollution Control Board, in its statement, said the waste from the slaughterhouse was being discharged into the Perandoor canal without treatment. The board added that the existing chemical treatment system at the slaughterhouse was not operational. Wastes from nearby hotels, houses, small shops and multi-storeyed flats were also being discharged into the Perandoor canal.
The board agreed with the contention of the petitioner that the functioning of the abattoir was creating a lot of problems by way of bad odour and contamination of the water body. The untreated discharge also made the water body a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Petitioner made several representations for shifting the slaughterhouse.
