Uttar Pradesh meat crisis: the boot is on the other leg

Lucknow: All opposition parties and most of others are blaming the Bharatiya Janata Party for the current meat crisis created by the indefinite strike by producers and sellers of non-vegetarian food in Uttar Pradesh , but the boot is on the other foot. It is the previous government and the producers who have to apportion the blame.

It is not easy for the non-BJP parties to digest but the state is facing the problem mainly because the two failed to act and act on time.

The Supreme Court which is the highest judicial body had asked for relocation and modernisation of slaughter houses as early as 2012. The National Green Tribunal had complained two years ago against most of the slaughter houses as they had polluted the rivers and created health hazards by keeping the surroundings unclean.

But either due to appeasement policy or sheer negligence no action was taken against any one of them. Licences of many of them had expired but they could run business without renewal with impunity.

The BJP being aware of the situation had warned early this year that it would close illegally run houses if it assumes power. But all this fell on deaf ears. And now when the party government has acted, all these groups ,which cared less, are crying hoarse against the party.

One general complaint is that they were not served any notice before sealing. But the 1959 Municipal Corporation Act empowers officials to take immediate action, because of health and hygiene concerns , if prescribed norms are not followed . Slaughter house owners cannot claim ignorance because licences are granted with conditions apply tag.

And, as it generally happens, the opposition is seeing communal angle in the action because it considers the BJP a communal and anti-Muslim party . Emotional card that a large number of families attached to the trade are on the verge of starvation is also being played.

The accurate number of illegal slaughter houses and unlicensed meat shops are not available

but the number may go up to 140 in the first category and 50,000 in the second. The government approved slaughter houses are only 72 in the country and 38 in Uttar Pradesh. Four such houses in the state are under the public sector out of which two are working at Agra and Saharanpur.

The state is the largest producer and exporter of buffalo meat. The Centre provides 50 per cent aid for setting up a slaughter house but state agencies are involved in all other processes of selection and control. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority makes inspection only if the unit is engaged in meat export.