Team Herald
PANJIM: Amidst fear of shortage of beef for Christmas, the Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) has urged the State government to ask Karnataka to not notify the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill 2020, which bans the slaughter and sale of bulls and bullocks in its state.
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The southern neighbouring state, on December 9 passed the Bill banning the slaughter and sale of these animals across the State. The Bill has severely hit Goan market as Karnataka is the sole State on which Goa is dependent on, after Maharashtra in 2015 passed a similar law.
The memorandum, signed by CSJP Executive Secretary Fr Savio Maria Fernandes, also states that the absence of beef for culinary business will impact tourism in the State.
“The supply of beef or even live animals for slaughter blocked by both the neighbouring States has seriously affected the livelihood of hundreds of meat traders, who along with their families depend solely on this trade for their survival. Moreover, the meat traders generate employment to a sizeable number of people who are also hard hit,” reads the two-page memorandum to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
Fr Fernandes has stated that vast population consume beef as for many, it is the primary source of protein.
With no beef, the staple diet will be lost. “Goa is also a popular tourist destination both, for domestic as well as international tourists and beef is very important to culinary business,” he added.
As such, the CSJP has requested the CM to urgently intervene in this matter with the State of Karnataka on behalf of the State of Goa asking them not to notify the Bill in their State in order to safeguard the livelihood of hundreds of meat traders who along with their employees and also their families are totally dependent on this trade for their survival.
“This intervention is also requested on behalf of the vast majority of beef consumers as well as for the benefit of the culinary business in Goa and for the benefit of tourism in the State,” the memorandum said.
