MARGAO: Beef stalls in Margao opened on Tuesday with sufficient stocks and no increase in the prices of beef, except for the undercut selection, which is preferred for being tender and easy to cook. Beef traders were, however, not sure for how long they will be able to provide beef and were not even willing to guarantee if it will be available till Christmas.
The availability of beef has come as a major relief to the Catholic community which feared that the Christmas celebrations would turn out to be a damp squib as there was no beef in sight and it is among the preferred meats prepared for the festival.
Sadam Hussain Aslam Bepari, a meat seller at Margao’s SGPDA market said he was unable to say whether beef will be available for Christmas. “Whatever stock they had they are giving us and we have brought it from Belgaum to sell here,” he said.
A huge rush was seen at five of the six beef stalls at the SGPDA market that opened on Tuesday after being shut since Karnataka passed the Bill prohibiting cattle slaughter in that State.
The “Bhendi” beef cut continues to be sold at Rs 350 a kg while undercut is sold for Rs 400 per kg which was earlier available for Rs 380 per kg.
However, the price of chicken has gone up for the festive season, as is normal. Chicken, which was available for Rs 140 a kg earlier, is now being sold for Rs 150 a kg.
Similarly pork prices too have shot up with it being sold for Rs 400 a kg instead of the earlier price of Rs 380 per kg. Incidentally in Margao, during the lockdown, pork was sold at the rate of Rs 350 a kg.
However, in rural Salcete like Chinchinim and Chandor pork continues to be sold at Rs 250 a kg. Mutton, which is also brought from Belgaum as there are not sufficient goats in Goa to meet the
demand is being sold at Rs 800 per kg at the SGPDA market.
