The present slaughterhouse in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, May 9: The district administration has identified land for relocation of the old slaughterhouse-cum-sale centre for big animals, which was situated near the office of the director of industries behind Barabati Stadium.

“In pursuance of a high court order, four acres has been identified at a distance of about one kilometre from Jagatpur on the north-western fringe of the city to set up a slaughterhouse for big animals,” Cuttack collector Girish S.N. told The Telegraph.

“Relocation of the old slaughterhouse has been a long standing issue. Resolving it had not been possible due to problems in identifying an appropriate alternative site. Allotment of the identified land will be made shortly after the Cuttack Municipal Corporation comes forward with the necessary formalities,” he said.

Orissa High Court had issued orders for relocation of the old slaughterhouse-cum-sale centre for big animals after receiving complaints from the court that it “is causing immense air and water pollution in the area”. The complaints were made during hearing of public interest litigations on civic problems in Cuttack city.

“We will initiate formalities for allotment of the land identified for the new slaughterhouse for big animals and submit a detailed project report for approval of the government soon after the general elections are over,” said municipal commissioner Gyanaranjan Das.

In July last year, the then municipal commissioner had stated in an affidavit that big animals were no more being slaughtered at the old abattoir near the office of the director of industries behind Barabati Stadium. Slaughtering is now being done at various places in the city such as Oriya Bazaar, Baunsagali, Diwan Bazaar and Mahamadia Bazaar.

However, beef is being transported to the old slaughterhouse behind Barabati Stadium in trolleys. After the beef is sold, the bones are stored there for two to three weeks before they are transported out. During the period of storage, foul smell fills the air.

“It has been decided to demolish the old slaughterhouse and an alternative place is being provided to the vendors to sell beef. After identification of the new site, the facility behind Barabati Stadium will be demolished. Since it is a highly-sensitive matter, it has to be dealt with the co-operation of the district and police administration,” the municipal commissioner said in his affidavit.

Taking note of it, the high court had in its order on July 26, 2013, said: “We, therefore, direct the district administration and the Cuttack Municipal Corporation as well as the police authorities to immediately find an alternative place and reallocate the slaughterhouse-cum-vending zone of meat of big animals and shift the present slaughterhouse-cum-vending zone from near the office of director of industries to that place. This shall be positively done by the end of September 2013.”

The matter came up when the division bench of Justice Indrajit Mohanty and Justice S.C. Parija was hearing public interest litigations on civic problems in Cuttack city on April 25.

The district administration and municipal administration pleaded that compliance of the order had not been possible because of want of alternative land. The court, however, was assured that process of land identification for the slaughterhouse had been completed and the project would begin shortly.