Supply hit hard, meat prices likely to soar after Navratra

New Delhi, March 28

Supply of meat has been hit hard in Delhi due to the crackdown on illegal abattoirs and the meat sellers' strike in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh but the real impact will be felt only after the nine-day-long Navratras.

Industry experts said the festival, during which Hindus generally abstain from eating non-vegetarian food, will "soften the blow" of shortage of meat as its consumption comes down by around 50 per cent during the period in the national capital.

An official in Ghazipur wholesale meat market said supply of goats from Uttar Pradesh has totally stopped since the crackdown on slaughterhouses and the ensuing strike in UP.

"As Delhi doesn't have livestock farms, the city only relies on UP, Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana. Earlier, around 20 trucks loaded with goats used to come to Ghazipur Mandi every day from Uttar Pradesh. There has been no supply from UP in the last few days. —  PTI