GHMC cracks down on meat shops

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) inspected 11 meat stores in the Alwal circle and eight of them were found to be flouting norms.Three of the meat stores were prosecuted for illegal slaughtering of animals and selling unstamped meat.

The accused were prosecuted under sections 539, 548, 521,487 and 596 of the GHMC Act. “Apart from slaughtering animals in residential areas, the shops prosecuted also had unhygienic conditions,“ said T Srinivas Reddy , veterinary officer, (North zone) GHMC.

Chicken shops in the same area was also found violating rules, with one not having a trade licence. During the inspection, officials found two chicken stores that were using plastic bags with a thickness below 40 microns and the chicken was exposed to dust and flies. A fine of Rs 1,700 was



imposed on them.

In Gachibowli, four people were prosecuted for slaughtering sheep and goats in a residential area. “We received complaints from locals. When we visited the place, we saw animals being slaughtering in an open place,“ said Abdul Wakil, assistant director (West Zone, Veterinary Section), GHMC.

The accused were prosecuted under 539, 548,521,487 and 596 of the GHMC Act.“The accused were slaughtering animals in an open place near their houses and one of them had been slaughtering animals inside his house,“ said a GHMC official who inspected the place. A total of 23 sheep and 52 skins of animals were confiscated by officials from the four accused and a fine of Rs 8,000 imposed on them. “The sheep have been shifted to an animal care centre,“ said Wakil.