VASCO: Minister for Animal Husbandry Mauvin Godinho on Monday informed that the Government has decided to privatise the excess capacity of Goa Meat Complex due to which the state will not only earn revenue but the same will also increase the availability of beef in state.
He further informed that the shortage of beef supply in Goa was not due to any problems at the Goa Meat Complex.
Clarifying that Goa Meat Complex is fully operational, he claimed that at present the traders are unable to bring animals for slaughter, as they are not following the specified rules of Animal Welfare Board.
“Actually the crux of the issue is that previously the traders in Goa used to get animals for slaughter from outside the state under the Rules of Animal Welfare Board which were framed in 1979. These rules speak of ‘Animal fit for transportation’, and nothing about slaughter. And since the NGOs have now started making noise, the traders have been told to fill other forms under the same rules of Animal Welfare Board which framed in 1960. Now, these traders don’t want to fill the form under 1960 Rule and want to continue with rules framed in 1979,” Godinho said
“They (traders) are blaming the government which is not in picture at all. If they follow the rules and get the animals under the rules then there will be no issues at all. The current beef crisis in state is because the beef traders are not brining animals for slaughter,” he claimed.
Godinho said there are some social activists who trouble beef traders and try to ensure animals from across the border are not brought to the state. To curb the same, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has directed the police to ensure that there beef traders are not harassed.
“Besides other steps, we intend to privatise the excess capacity of the Goa Meat Complex to a private party who wants to use our premises for slaughtering not only for local consumption but for export. In this way there will be plenty of beef available for local consumption as well as for export and by privatising our facility government will earn revenue,” he added.
