No beef shortage in Goa: Minister

Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Mauvin Godinho, however, admits that no animal had been slaughtered Goa’s only public sector abattoir since November 2017.

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar with Minister Mauvin Godinho.

Goa Minister for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Mauvin Godinho on Wednesday told the State Legislative Assembly that there was no beef shortage reported to the Goa Meat Complex Limited(GMCL), Goa’s only abattoir, in public sector. At the same time, the Minister admitted that no animal had been slaughtered at the abattoir since last November.

In a written reply to a question tabled by Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar on Wednesday during question hour on whether there was a beef shortage in Goa during 2017-18, Mr. Godinho said: “There is no shortage of beef reported to GMCL, and no animals have been slaughtered at the complex since November 2017”.

Non-functional abattoir

Both ruling as well as Opposition legislators, had expressed concern over a beef shortage in the State during the ongoing session of the State. They had blamed the non-functional abattoir on one hand and targetted beef consignments brought in from Karnataka by beef traders, on the other.

Provisional permission

On Tuesday, a delegation of Muslim leaders had also met Minister for Factories and Boilers Vijai Sardesai demanding that the abattoir be made functional before Bakri Eid.

Mr. Sardesai had assured them that a provisional permission would be granted from his Ministry to the slaughter house, to ensure that it functioned before the Muslim festival