City's Only Civic Abattoir Shut for Flouting Norms

The facility, operated by PMC, was shut on Tuesday following inspection that revealed discharge of untreated effluents into drainage system

- Vicky Pathare

PUNE: The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has ordered the closure of Pune's only civic-run slaughterhouse at Kondhwa for allegedly violating environmental norms.

The facility, operated by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), was shut on Tuesday evening following an inspection that revealed direct discharge of untreated effluents into the city's drainage network, which eventually flows into the Mula-Mutha river via Bhairoba Nalla.

The complete closure operations, being implemented from Wednesday, has sparked concern among traders and butchers over potential meat shortages in both Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, especially when the month of Ashad as per Hindu calendar has started, with demand for meat going up.

Fears have also been raised over a possible surge in illegal animal slaughter, which poses a serious public health risk due to the absence of ante-mortem inspection meant to prevent diseased or unfit animals from entering the food chain.