By Our Reporter
Shillong: There seems to be no end to the increasing road blocks to the much-delayed construction of the proposed Slaughter House at Mawlai Mawiong as the two Dorbar Shnongs of the area are firm on their decision to oppose the construction even as State Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister BM Lanong assured to resolve their grievances.
The project scheduled to be completed this year, has been delayed due to the on-going oppositions from the Dorbar Shnong Mawiong rim and Mawiong Umjapung for almost two months which resulted in the suspension of all work, Lanong told reporters here on Sunday.
The Dorbar Shnongs protested against the construction of the said project alleging it had adversely affected the drinking water in the Mawlai area.
Lanong said people should realise the need to set up a proper place for meat to be treated in a healthy manner to avoid any fallout on their health and the project was in accordance to the direction of the Supreme Court.
“The government will make sure there are no loopholes in the construction which might result in deteriorating health conditions for the people of the area”, Lanong asserted.
The residents, however, laid out various reasons for their opposition to the project– affect on drinking water, foul odour, unhealthy surrounding which could pollute the area, being prime among them.
Lanong assured these problems can be tackled by the government while adding that the benefit of the construction would far outweigh the issues raised by the people of the concerned localities.
“We cannot stop the work on reasons which are not fully justified, we have to think of the benefit of the State as a whole”, Lanong added.
The project, with a total cost of Rs 22 crore, was sanctioned by the State Government with the purpose to ease the burden of the butchers in and around the city.
This slaughter house will provide training to the people with a purpose to maintain cleanliness and proper treatment of waste products which can turn them into manure, director of Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Dr L Lyngwa had said recently.
However, the location chosen for the construction of the slaughter house was very close to Marten at Mawlai which according to the residents of Mawiong will have a great impact on the cleanliness of the area and its adjacent localities.