PONDA: In a startling revelation, it has come to light that the Goa Meat Complex has been operating without permission from the State Government for slaughtering cattle since 2014.
According to RTI obtained from the Government of Goa by Anjali Anand, a member of the NGO Animal Welfare Board, the meat complex does not have a factory licence from the Department of Factories and Boilers since December 2014; no FSSAI licence and no permission from FDA to carry out slaughter; no consent from Goa State Pollution Control Board and also no provision for stunning of animals before slaughtering.
According to RTI, the meat complex has found itself in trouble for allowing the consignment of six cattle from Karnataka for slaughter without obtaining mandatory legal permissions from Government Departments.
Anjali has approached Ponda JMFC demanding the police register an FIR against the meat complex.
“We have brought illegalities to the notice of High Court and alleged that Animal Husbandry Minister Mauvin Godinho and Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai have been illegally encouraging and supporting the meat traders for slaughtering of cattle at the meat complex by pressurising the officials. Illegal slaughter of cattle has been taking place during Id Festival”, Govansha Raksha Abiyan president Hanumanth Parab alleged.
Parab, Animal Welfare Board of India members namely Anjali Anand and Vishwas Raikar and others filed a police complaint on Wednesday against illegal transportation of cattle from Karnataka to the meat complex for slaughter following which the police stopped the meat complex officials from slaughtering the cattle. The police rescued the six animals and sent them back to Karnataka.
Speaking to Herald Hanumanth condemned the government and the meat complex chairman Satyavijay Naik for supporting illegal slaughter. He said government officials, including meat complex MD, are working under pressure from the two ministers. He said the meat complex has violated the High Court order of 2016 and guidelines for slaughtering.
He said Section 8 of Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act does not allow the transportation of cattle from their state to other states for slaughter. Meanwhile, Anjali Anand has filed a petition before Ponda JMFC seeking to direct Police to file FIR against the meat complex for bringing cattle for slaughter at GMC.
JMFC has fixed the matter on May 28 and has issued notices to Police Superintendent Margao and MD of Goa Meat Complex to submit their say on the matter.
Ponda DYSP Mahesh Gaonkar said that during inspection there was no proper documentation for transporting and slaughtering the cattle following which police took action.
