New site for abattoir project in Faridabad

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, November 26

The Municipal Corporation (MC) has identified a fresh site for a-of-the-art Abbatoir (slaughterhouse) after the earlier one was dropped after stiff opposition.

The move to set up the Rs 25-crore project near Pali village had met with opposition not only from residents of several villages, but also from the MLA from NIT Nagender Bhadana, who had joined the protesters to pull down the boundary wall of the project near Pali village in June this year. This resulted in suspension of work that was launched in April.

“We have now identified a new spot near Tikri Khera village and will soon submit a fresh proposal to the government,” said Mohammed Shayin, Commissioner, MC. Admitting that the proposal had been taken up several years ago, he said the selection of land near Pali village was opposed by villagers.

It is revealed that the MC, which had been assured funding by the Union Ministry of Food and Processing had even spent Rs 1.5 core on ground work at the Pali village. A total of Rs 25 crore is earmarked for the project. “The abattoir facility is the need of the hour as it will help to get rid of the problem of slaughtering animals for meat in the open by shopkeepers, who hardly care for hygiene and cleanliness,’’ said an MC official.

Despite clearance from departments concerned, the residents of several villages including Pali, Mohabattabad, Dhauj, Sirohi and Mangar, have been opposing the construction of the abbatoir at Pali village. While they claimed that the slaughterhouse was not only against the sentiments of the Hindu community, but it would result in pollution due to its location.

“As the NIT MLA joined the protesters who pulled down the boundary wall of the project on June 21, the authorities had to stop the work,” said Jitender Bhadana, of the “Save Aravalli”, an NGO which also opposed it.