Abattoir at Mawlai Mawiong likely to be iugurated in February

A Reporter

SHILLONG, Jan 7: During the spot inspection of the abattoir at Mawlai Mawiong by Animal Husbandry and Veteriry Minister Deborah Marak today the Director of Animal Husbandry and Veteriry revealed that the slaughter house needs more funds for it to be fully operatiol.

It may be noted that the abattoir has been constructed at a cost of Rs.23 crore by the Rapsang Group of Companies, Shillong, in collaboration with Real Growth Company, Cheni.

Speaking to newsmen after the inspection Marak said, "Everything is completed.  All the machines have been installed.  The only crucial part left is to conduct training for butchers because until and unless proper training is imparted the slaughter house will not be able to function."

Terming the abattoir as an asset to the people she said that many will reap the benefit of having the abattoir and once training is completed the department expects the slaughterhouse to filly be iugurated in February 2016.

When asked about the measures taken by the department to check pollution, she said the department has followed all the regulations as per the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) and they have installed all the latest technology so the question of pollution does not arise.

Informing that the abattoir located at Mawlai Mawiong is meant only for Shillong, she said, "All the District headquarters in the state will soon have their own abattoir and right now we have already started construction work in Jowai."

When asked on the reason for the delay in setting up the abattoir, Director of Animal Husbandry and Veteriry Dr. J. S Jyrwa said, "The reason for the delay in setting up the slaughter house despite it being conceptualized since 2011 is due to the fact that we had to cross many hurdles such as objection from some localities due to fear of pollution bedsides the transfer of machinery."

He however said that another factor which might have resulted in the delay in setting up the abattoir is due to lack of expertise from the department since this is the first such a project has been undertaken by them.

He said that training will be given by Real Growth Company, Cheni to those butchers who will be doing daily operatiol work at the abattoir.

 "We have formed a Magement Committee where the Butcher Association is also part of the committee and those butchers who are already plying their trade in Shillong they will receive the training," he said.

He informed that the abattoir will have a capacity of slaughtering 160 large animals, 240 pigs and 240 small animals (goats) each day.

"We however need more funds to make the abattoir functiol and we hope in the next couple of days we will receive the required funds," he said.

Meanwhile, Senior Project Engineer of Rapsang Group of Companies Shanbor Laloo said, "In order to check pollution we have installed an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) in which all the waste materials will be diverted to a screening chamber and then the breese waste materials will be separated so we can say everything is being done in a safe and hygienic manner."

He said there will also be doctors at the slaughter house to monitor the animal's health and once they have been certified by the doctors then only the animals will be taken to be processed for meat.