The Adityanath Yogi government's decision to ban mechanised slaughterhouses in Uttar Pradesh is at odds with the policy of the Centre, which has granted "industry status" to abattoirs, meat exporters feel as they consider taking recourse to legal means.
"The Centre has granted industry status to slaughter houses and the food processing ministry too provides an aid of 50 per cent to encourage them. But, the UP government has ordered ban on all mechanised slaughter houses," a senior functionary of the All India Meat and Livestock Exporters Association said.
It is in "contravention" to the central government policy, the functionary, who wished not to be named, said.
He said that Uttar Pradesh accounts for nearly 50 per cent of India's total meat exports and such a decision would affect the livelihood 25 lakh people directly or indirectly.
The Association "supports banning illegal abattoirs" but opposes the move to shut down all the mechanised ones, he said.
If the state government brings an ordinance in this regard, the Association would approach the court, he said.
"We are keeping a close watch on the developments and will wait. An organised industry should not be dealt with in this manner," he said.
In the past three months the industry has suffered huge losses due to demonetisation and the closure of mechanised slaughter houses will add to the woes, he added.
As per estimates, the country exports meat products worth Rs 26,685 crore annually and with the closure of slaughter houses in UP it will come down to half, the association functionary lamented.
In its pre-poll manifesto, the BJP had said that if voted to power, it would shut all the illegal slaughterhouses and impose a blanket ban on mechanised abattoirs. And immediately after assuming office, Adityanath government has gone for after illegal and mechanised abattoirs with full gusto.
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