UP Governor Ram Naik has promulgated two ordinances to shift abattoirs outside city limits which will effectively ban slaughtering of animals within the municipal limits of the urban areas. The government had said the slaughterhouses were being shifted out of cities for the sake of environment and hygiene.
On January 18 the state cabinet had approved the draft of the amendment in the Act to shift all slaughterhouses outside city limits. However, the ordinance allows animal slaughter within the city for religious purposes. The State government had forwarded the draft ordinances, Rs Rs Uttar Pradesh Nagar Nigam (Amendment) Bill 2018’’ and the Rs Rs Uttar Pradesh Nagar Palika (Amendment) Bill 2018’’ to the Governor. The municipal corporations (Nagar Nigams) and municipal boards (Nagar Palikas) were stripped of powers to construct and run slaughterhouses and will now merely “regulate” them.
The Cabinet’s decision and approval by the Governor come a few days ahead of the likely pronouncement of a verdict on January 31 by the Allahabad High Court in the appeal against shutting down of slaughterhouses by the Yogi Adityanath government.
The All India Jamiatul Quresh, body of Qureshis, traditional Muslim butcher community, has said the decision will not only lead to a rise in prices but also lead to disruption in the business.