Substandard slaughterhouses sealed in Khalanga Bazaar

By Our Correspondent,Musikot, May 31: Authorities have started sealing slaughterhouses operating without following the necessary standards in Khalanga Bazaar in Musikot, the district headquarters of Western Rukum district.

In a recent inspection, the District Administration Office (DAO) sealed eight slaughterhouses in the bazaar.

“The quantity of meat consumption is increasing but people are unaware of proper health standards. Slaughterhouses have legal and ethical obligations to operate a hygienic shop and provide quality meat,” said Prabesh Badhuwal, Assistant Chief District Officer of Western Rukum.

According to Baduwal, the DAO had also received several complaints from the public regarding poor butchery.

“Our team was facilitated by officials of the district’s Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Service Centre (VHLSC) and security forces as we inspected 17 abattoirs. Among them, eight did not meet the standards and were sealed,” said Baduwal.

The DAO had warned the butchers in the bazaar to abide by the standards. However, as they continued disregarding the requests, the authorities sealed such slaughterhouses this time.

“The sealed slaughterhouses will be allowed to operate only after they meet the set standards,” said Gyan Kumar Sharma, acting chief at the district’s VHLSC.

Officials informed that the sealed butcheries were sealed for not having a permit, lack of cleanliness, and mismanagement of different meat varieties, among others.

The inspection team also informed that they would be conducting inspections of slaughterhouses and other kinds of service providers at regular intervals.