By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Construction of the slaughter house (abattoir) at Mawlai Mawiong is likely to be completed by April this year with only 20 per cent of the work left to be completed, Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, BM Lanong, said after a spot inspection of the on-going construction work on Tuesday.
The Rs 22 crore project is being commissioned amidst stern oppositions from the Dorbar Shnong of Mawlai Mawiong Rim and Mawiong Umjapung.
“I am satisfied with the work so far. The government has come up with this project with the positive intention of providing safe and hygienic meat to the citizens of the State and I assure that the waste and effluence released from the house will not cause any health hazard to the people of this area,” Lanong said.
Lanong further informed that the department is also contemplating to maximize the hygienic recovery of animal byproducts of value apart from recovery of animal offal, skin, horns, hooves, small and large intestines. “Most of the waste will be converted into manure. So in one way, this will be a house which will also manufacture fertilizers,” he added.
According to Lanong, the capacity of the abattoir is of 160 large animals, 240 pigs and 240 small animals (goats) per day. “This will be the first of its kind all over the country where all kind of farm animals will be slaughtered in the same house in different compartments,” the Deputy Chief Minister stated.
Besides this, it was also informed that the used water will be recycled back through the construction of fish ponds besides having treatment plants in the 2.65 acres of land acquired by the government to construct the abattoir.
Meanwhile, Director of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, Dr L Lyngwa, informed that all the operation will be done mechanically while adding that the machines are set to reach the proposed site on January 25.
Further, Dr Lyngwa said that before handling the whole operation to the butchers association, training will be conducted so as to enable the butchers to have first-hand information in operating the new machines.
The training will be delivered by two trainers from a manufacturing company in China, Real Growth Company.
Reacting to a query on the opposition of the two Dorbar Shnong in Mawiong, Lanong said a case has been filed against the department by the Dorbar Shnong last year but there has been no follow up in this regard. “The situation is in a stand still position as of now”, he said.
Lanong also informed that the State Government has also initiated the process of setting up of abattoirs at Jowai and Tura.