shariq's blog: Blogger: User Profile: shariq012

COMMUNITY

Meat consumed in Sangrur could be harmful Shariq Majeed Tribune News Service Sangrur, November 23 If you are in Sangrur and have to consume meat, think twice. In the absence of any slaughterhouse as well as no proper checking of animals before slaughter by meat shop owners there is every possibility that one is consuming meat of a diseased or under-aged animal. Sources said, “Neither is there any slaughterhouse in Sangrur where the live animal could be checked by a veterinary doctor of the municipal committee (MC) nor do individual meat sellers monitor the animal for being healthy.There is every chance that one is consuming unhygienic meat of a diseased or under-aged animal”. They added that leave aside the checking of live animals, there is no veterinary doctor arranged by the authorities from the Animal Husbandry Department for checking the animal. The municipal authorities were evading their duties as they have even failed to maintain a check on sanitation in meat shops, the sources said. “They are not sure whether meat shop owners have licences issued by the municipal committee in Sangrur to sell meat,” they added. “The municipal committee authorities depute a veterinary doctor for examining the live animal before slaughter who puts a stamp on the animal. After the animal is slaughtered, the MC authorities check the meat and pass it for sale by putting a stamp. None of the procedures is being followed in Sangrur. Since people are being made to eat unhygienic meat, they are exposed to various gastro-intestinal diseases”, said a source. Executive officer (EO), Sangrur municipal committee, Surjeet Singh, told The Tribune that there was a slaughterhouse in Sangrur few years ago but as of now there is none. “We don’t have a veterinary officer in the municipal committee. I am also not sure that live animals are checked by individual meat shop owners before slaughter”. When asked about the matter, the EO said: “Nothing will happen to people by consuming meat”. Sanitary officer, Sangrur municipal committee, Jasbir Singh, said: “I don’t know much about it since there is no slaughterhouse in Sangrur. We don’t check the meat at meat shops either”. Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Sangrur, Gurbachan Singh Dhillon, said the MC should have asked them to arrange a veterinary doctor for checking the live animals before slaughter but they never did so.