Abattoir, an epicentre of contamination

Vijayawada: Slaughter house is slowly turning into epicentre of contamination causing health hazard to the people in its vicinity. Located on the outskirts, when it was first started five decades ago, the abattoir now is surrounded by areas like Urmilanagar and Kabela. The slaughter house has 12.5 acres, including dumping backyard. The present premises is divided into two blocks, one for slaughter of small animals and the other for big ones.

Highlights:

• Located on the outskirts, it first started five decades ago, but now the slaughterhouse is surrounded by areas like Urmilanagar and Kabela
• The air at slaughterhouse and its vicinity is filled with unbearable stink.
• If things are allowed the same way for some more time, no wonder slaughter house will prove breeding ground for epidemic

On week days, about 90 sheep and goats are slaughtered. On Sundays about 1,000 small animals are sacrificed. Similarly, 40 large animals on week days and 90 on Sunday are slaughtered here. The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) is collecting Rs 30 for large animal and Rs 15 for small animal towards fee from the meat and beef vendors who account for about 400 in the city. The activity begins as early as 4 am at the slaughter house with animals queued up for slaughter.

A VMC health officer verifies animals to confirm whether they are suitable for slaughtering in all aspects, including any disease. The process of slaughter and skinning takes place there till 8 am.From the outside, it appears everything is perfect at the slaughter house. When one questions about the disposal of waste coming from slaughtered animals, the shocking realities come to light. In order to maintain hygiene, the VMC engaged 10 DWCRA members and three public health department workers are deputed at the slaughter house.

After slaughtering, the blood and other washable material drained out into a sump like outlet. If an airtech machine works eight times a day, 50 per cent of the effluents are removed from the sump. That way the sump will never be emptied and continuous flow into sump will never stop. The smell emanating from the sump was difficult to cope with for new comer who arrives at the slaughter house.

In the same way, the waste remained on the floor of the slaughter chamber is being removed into 60-litre capacity plastic containers covered with polythene carry bags. The carry bags are being tied up and buried in the backyard without untied. This is the kind of disposal of waste going on when The Hans India visited the slaughter house.When asked Dr Sreedhar who takes care of the slaughter house told that the waste was being shifted to VMC dumping yard in other parts of the city.

As he was new to take charge, he has different plans to improve things at the slaughter house. Close to slaughter house, abutting the road connecting slaughter house to main road, there is a place which is full of garbage dump. The air at slaughter house and its vicinity was filled with unbearable stink. If things are allowed the same way for some more time, no wonder slaughter house will prove the place for spread of epidemic.

By Noor Shaik