Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday informed the Legislative Assembly that there was no shortage of beef reported in the State.
“No shortage of beef in the State is reported,” said Sawant in a written reply to Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco. Sawant said the estimated consumption of beef based on the meat inspection charges paid by beef dealers/traders is approximately 3000 kg per day.
The Chief Minister stated that the government was studying the possibility of outsourcing the Modern Abattoir of Goa Meat Complex at Usgao to private companies for the period of 10 years.
At the same time, Sawant said the government was unable to give a definite time-frame for the Goa Meat Complex to become fully operational so as to meet the demand of beef due to ban on slaughter and transport of animals in both the neighbouring States.
Sawant, who holds the animal husbandry and veterinary services portfolio also clarified that the excess use of sodium preservation in fresh beef was not being used at the Goa Meat Complex.
Lourenco had sought to know the steps taken by the Goa government to ensure regular supply of beef in the State in view of beef ban in the neighbouring State of Karnataka and whether the regular supply of beef was matching with demand of beef consumers.
To another question, the Chief Minister told Curtorim MLA that so far 85 per cent of the work of veterinary hospital at Sonsoddo is completed and the entire work would be completed by September 30.
