No local body-run slaughterhouses in dist; food safety concerns mount

The Kollam corporation's slaughterhouse has been remaining shut for the past seven years

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Kollam

DESPITE THE daily slaughter of over 300 animals in Kollam, not a single slaughterhouse is operated by a local body. This lack of oversight raises serious concerns about meat safety, hygiene standards, and significant revenue losses for civic authorities.

The Kollam Corporation's slaughterhouse, once a major revenue generator-bringing in over Rs 60 lakh annually through auctions-has remained shut for the past seven years following objections raised by the Pollution Control Board. The board flagged the direct discharge of waste into Ashtamudi Lake as a major environmental hazard.

Meanwhile, an ambitious slaughterhouse project initiated by the Kadakkal Panchayat two decades ago remains incomplete.