PANJIM: The Quraishi’s Meat Traders Association (QMTA) was on Wednesday evening offered two agencies by the State government, both from Karnataka, to help with supplies of beef to Goa. This was at a meeting between Goa’s Animal Husbandry Department and leaders of QMTA, held on the instructions of Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant
A five-member delegation from across Goa met the Director of the Animal Husbandry Department Santosh Dessai.
“We are very thankful to Chief Minister of Goa to listen to our plea and help extended but these two agencies have hiked the price and we do not want to hike our prices and impose a burden on the State during the festivities,” QMTA president Manna Bepari told Herald.
He said that until Goa Meat Complex becomes fully functional they have requested the Goa government to talk to the Karnataka government for issuance of certification for transportation of beef to Goa until the bill on ban of cow slaughter in Karnataka becomes an Act.
Bepari added that though the demand of beef is for 15 tonnes a day, they are currently receiving nine tonnes a day and are selling beef at Rs 350 a kg. “If we take the help of the suppliers from Karnataka the prices will shoot up to Rs 450, which we do not want to do. We also want that Goa Meat Complex should be functional as soon as possible,” Bepari added.
Herald also spoke to the Goa Meat Complex managing director Prabhu Gaonkar who said the complex is ready for operations. “We are ready to open the complex anytime. We can make it operational immediately,” Gaonkar said.
However, Bepari assured that they are trying their best to keep the truncated supplies on till a solution is found and it has to be done quickly. “We are thankful to our Chief Minister that he has given at least three statements to protect our business too,” said Bepari.
