TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The blame game for the recent shortage of beef in the State continued, with local traders slamming NGOs for the situation, while the Goa Meat Complex and Animal Husbandry departments pointed fingers at illegal meat traders.
“There are some NGOs that say cattle can be used for agricultural purposes only and take them into their custody. So even if we have the necessary permissions (for slaughter), we are helpless,” Manna Bapari, vice president of the All Goa Quraishi Meat Traders, told media.
On the other hand, the Goa Meat Complex, which claims that the complex is fully functional, complained that traders are not bringing their cattle to the abattoir for slaughter and argued that it was because of illegal traders that the State is facing the beef shortage.
“It came to light that a group of people, to keep their businesses running, were exploiting the situation to gain sympathies from Goan beef consumers, creating shortages and creating a crisis unmindful of the inconveniences caused to all concerned,” Lyndon Monteiro, chairman of Goa Meat Complex said.
Monteiro also said beef supplies were hit, following the 2013 High Court order banning slaughter of animals in Goa. It was during this time that slaughter was stopped. “It is learnt that beef was imported legally using health certificates issued by authorities at source from Belgaum,” he said.
Following an appeal, the court, in June 2013, passed an order stating no animal from outside the State was permitted to be slaughtered, except at the Goa Meat Complex and that too in the presence of a government officer and an NGO representative.
Sixty meat traders and over 100 meat sellers all over the State have, since Monday, shut shop due to the shortage. The State currently requires 30 to 50 tonnes of beef per day, depending on the season.
