With Eid-ul-Adha or Bakri Eid scheduled to be observed on June 7, preparations are on for the festival at the Deonar municipal abattoir and animal market.
The Govandi Citizens Welfare Forum, which represents many residents who work at the abbatoir, submitted a set of comprehensive and community-driven suggestions regarding the temporary animal market expected to host over 2.5 lakh goats and 15,000 buffaloes.
The group has asked for the strict enforcement of animal transport and slaughter guidelines to reduce cruelty, ensure stunning before slaughter, and improve sanitation, as earlier reports by animal rights and citizen groups revealed major violations.
The delegation, which met the general manager of the abattoir, opposed the monopoly enjoyed by one contractor and urged for open, competitive tendering to promote transparency. They suggested infrastructure upgrades like improved shelter conditions and better chilling, drainage, and waste management systems.
The group requested the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to waive off parking charges for two-wheelers and free exit for livestock after purchase to ease financial burden on common citizens. They also demanded better crowd management and provision of: canteens on all four sides (East, West, North, South) of the market to reduce crowding.
The delegation also recommendation Artificial Intelligence tools for animal census, supervision, and market transparency, aiming at monitoring and economic empowerment of trader unions. They also asked for relief from high fees and rationalisation of complicated licencing procedures.
Last week, a delegation from All India Jamaitul Quresh, representing the butcher community, led by Imran Babu Qureshi, national vice president AIJQ, Zafar Qureshi , Mumbai president AIJQ, and others visited the abbatoir to look at the preparations for Qurbani during Eid-ul-Adha.
They complained about delay in the transport of animals to the abbatoir from different parts of the state due to protests by animal rights activists. Another issue discussed was the incidents of antisocial elements looting livestock transport vehicles on national highways and en route to Deonar Abattoir was brought to attention," Imran said Qureshi.
