Margao: NCP MLA Churchill Alemao on Thursday demanded that Goa government should restart, on priority, functioning of an abattoir at state run Goa Meat Complex Limited to counter the beef shortage in the state.
The beef traders in Goa ar fearing shortage of the meat in the run up for Christmas and New Year when the demand for it increases.
Addressing a press conference in Margao, Alemao said that he would take up the issue with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday (tomorrow) urging him to ensure that state run Goa Meat Complex Limited (GMCL) resumes its operations.
The abattoir at GMCL has not been functioning for last five years.
Alemao said that the slaughtering capacity of animals at state run abattoir has a capacity to slaughter 200 animals per day. He said “if there is any issue with Karnataka, the animals can be brought from neighbouring Maharashtra.”
Goa has banned slaughtering of cow while bulls and buffaloes are allowed to be slaughtered in certified slaughter houses.
Goa Minorities’ Association President Shaikh Iftikar, who was also present for the press conference, said that the state requires 25 tonnes of beef every day, considering the local consumption and also demand from the tourism industry.
He said that the animals are brought from other states, abiding all the guidelines laid down by Supreme Court directives, to slaughter in the state. Iftikar said that there is shortage of animals in Goa as “farmers in the state usually don’t sell them for butchering.”
