Carcasses raise stink as skinners go on strike

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 22

Amid the Covid-19 crisis and hot weather conditions, highly decomposed carcasses of cattle are not being lifted from dairy complexes and other locations in the city as animal skinners have gone on strike once again in protest against the fresh notices sent by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB).

The PPCB had earlier sent notices to five animal skinners and imposed Rs 11.40 crore environmental compensation charges on them (Rs 2.28 crore on each) in February for allegedly discharging effluents from “hadda rodi” (place where carcasses are skinned) near Ladhowal, into Sutlej River.

The skinners had then gone on strike, but they had later resumed their work after getting assurance from city Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu that the matter would be resolved soon.

Now, they have got fresh notices from the PPCB and have been asked to pay the environmental compensation charges within the next 15 days. As the skinners have gone on strike once again, the situation is getting worse in the city due to non-lifting of carcasses infested with worms.

Krishan Lal, a skinner, said: “We have stopped lifting dead cattle from dairy complexes, gaushalas and other locations in the city to mark our protest. Our financial condition is very poor. We can’t pay this huge amount of environmental compensation charges.”

Parshotam Lal, another skinner, said: “It is difficult for us to meet our daily needs. Earlier, my father and grandfather used to lift the dead cattle from the city. Now I am doing the same work with which, a very low income is generated. As the skinners can’t pay crores of rupees, we appeal to the government to waive the environmental compensation charges.”

As there is no designated location to dispose of the carcasses in the jurisdiction of the Ludhiana MC, these skinners used to take the carcasses to “hadda rodi” located near Ladhowal, which is located outside the MC’s limit. A carcass utilisation plant project is being set up under the Smart City Mission, but it may take some more time for completion.

There are over 1,000 dairies located on Tajpur Road and Hambran Road in Ludhiana.

DS Oberoi, president of the Tajpur Road Dairy Complex Association, said: “Some of the carcasses emitting stench are not being lifted from the dairy complex area for the past two days. The animal skinners have gone on a strike after getting the notices from the PPCB. We appeal to the authorities concerned to take necessary steps so that the dead cattle can be lifted from the dairy complex at the earliest.”

The skinners also went to meet the Mayor today to get his help in this matter. Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu said he would look into the matter and take necessary steps to get the issue resolved.

Residents’ misery

“Some of the carcasses emitting stench are not being lifted from the dairy complex area for the past two days. The animal skinners have gone on a strike after getting notices from the PPCB. We appeal to the authorities concerned to take necessary steps so that the dead cattle can be lifted from the dairy complex at the earliest.” DS Oberoi, president, Tajpur Road Dairy Complex Association

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