By Our Reporter
Shillong: Despite opposition from the local Dorbar Shnong, the State Government has gone ahead with the construction of the slaughter house (abattoir) at Mawlai Mawiong in full-swing, with more than 60 per cent of the construction work already completed.
Informing this here on Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister also incharge of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister BM Lanong said that the department hoped to start the trial run tentatively by December.
“I hope that the first meat treated from the abattoir would be supplied to the people for the feast during Christmas”, Lanong said adding that the necessary equipment will be available once the construction is completed.
It may be recalled that the Rs 22-crore project sanctioned by the State Government and implemented by the Veterinary department with an aim to ease the burden of the butchers in and around the city suffered many setbacks due to oppositions from the Joint Executive Committee of the Dorbar Shnong of Mawiong Umjapung and Mawiong Rim.
The two Dorbar Shnong had even sought the court’s intervention in the matter in May last, asking the Shillong Bench of the Gauhati High Court to issue a stay-order on the on-going construction of the abattoir.
Reacting to this, the Veterinary Minister brushed aside claims of negative impact the abattoir might have on the health of the people as the slaughter house is situated very close to the dumping ground (marten). “The government has sought for a scientific approach in treating the wastes at Marten and furthermore, the abattoir will be airtight and pollution-free with the latest technology in place”, the Deputy CM said.
Lanong further said that the wastes coming out of the abattoir will be converted into manure and will not cause any threat to the health of the people as well as the drinking water located downstream of the abattoir. “The main source of drinking water of the people will not be disturbed or polluted and we have barricaded all the sides preventing waste materials from flowing downstream to the river”, he added. Lanong also informed that the State Government is in the process of setting up abattoirs at Jowai and Tura adding that in Jowai, a firm has been selected after the tenders were floated while in Tura, the same had to be re-tendered as there were no sufficient bidders.