By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Nov. 19: Food Technology and Quality Control Division, in coordination with the Agriculture and Livestock Development, inspected the slaughterhouses located near the Bishnumati River on Monday.
During the inspection, slaughterhouse operators of the Bishnumati River said that the slaughterhouses of the city were not improved due to the ongoing dispute between them and the landowners.
“We are committed to improving the slaughterhouses to supply healthy meat in the market. But the landowners have been reluctant to provide us their land in lease,” said Sabik Shahi, operator of Ganesh Roy Newa: Quality Meat Shop.
“If we construct the slaughterhouse without reaching an agreement with the landowners, they can dismantle the structure anytime,” said Shahi, adding that they didn’t want to risk their investment.
Similar are the views of Binod Khadki, operator of Kwality Fresh and Frozen Meat Pvt. Ltd.
Kadki said, “The investors are worried about the safety of their investment, and we are seeking the government’s support on it.”
“If the government provides support, we are ready to establish slaughterhouse outside of the valley.”
Suren Khadki, who was busy in his slaughterhouse when the inspection team reached his shop, said they were ready to operate their slaughterhouse anywhere the government would provide them with the land.
“But it seems the government is not committed to making the slaughterhouses safe,” he added.
The slaughterhouse operators have also asked the government to support them with the modern technology in order to supply healthy meat in the market.
While the locals of the area have complained that the slaughterhouse operated near the Bishnumati River had been creating problem to them.
Laxmi Devi Khadki, one of the locals, said, “In the name of operating slaughterhouse, they are creating serious problem in the locality.”
“The excretion and remaining of the animals often block the drainage system and the sewage water enters our households,” said Laxmi.
The foul smell emanating from the slaughterhouse had added further owes to the locals, she added.
“Every night from 11-12 pm, they transport the animals and at around 1-2 am they start slaughtering animals. They use high power gas stoves to clean the meat. When they turn on their gas stoves, it sounds like a large number of airplanes are taking off there,” she added.
The locals are tired of complaining, said other locals.
A number of slaughterhouses are in the upper side of the link-road in the bank of Bishnumati.
The butchers used to slaughter animals in the edge of the river. This situation has somehow improved in the recent years. They have started to slaughter animals in sheds now, said Sashi Lal Shrestha, ward-chair of KMC-19.
He said there was a dispute between the slaughterhouse operators and the land owners. “We are trying to bring both the parties in an agreement to resolve the issue.”
According to the Chandra Man Dangol, ward chair of Ward-19, there are total 35 slaughterhouses in the area.
Since the government has failed to manage slaughterhouses properly, they are creating negative impact on the environment, he added.
“The locals often reach the ward office asking to control foul smell emanating from the slaughterhouses, but we have been unable to take any action because this needs both investment and technology,” said Dangol.
Ward member Madhusudhan Pradhan said they were planning to resolve the problem in the initiative of the slaughterhouse operators.
“There are multiple problems in the source of meat, so we have asked the meat entrepreneurs to form a committee to resolve this problem,” he added.
Hari Bahadur Bhandari, chief of the Food Technology and Quality Control Division, said in the support of the ward office, they would figure out the problems between the slaughterhouse operators and landowners.