A rancid stench pervades the road to Karikottai Kothandanagar in Chromepet.

Here
the earth is filled with blood and bone dust that trail off with
rainwater, while horns and hooves lie dumped in one corner. Carcasses
covered in tarpaulin lie on one side, a stunned calf too lies there,
almost dead, while two men work on a slaughtered cow with knives.

The
centre of these activities is an almost 80-year-old open
slaughterhouse. On Sunday, around 5 a.m., when the Chromepet police,
egged by animal activists, entered the place, activity was at its peak.

Only
one of the six meat shops had a licence to operate, and that too, only
to sell meat. After the raid, the Chromepet police registered a case
against three persons who ran the slaughter business, under various
offences of Tamil Nadu Animal Prevention Act.

The
carcasses were confiscated and sent for post-mortem. “Meat shops cannot
be used to slaughter animals,” said S. Muralitharan, an animal activist.
 

The Tamil Nadu Animal Prevention Act mandates all
animals be certified with ‘fit-for-slaughter’ certificate before
slaughter. The certificate is given if the animal is over 10 years of
age and unfit for work and breeding.

On Sunday, at
least six calves and twenty cows lay bound in various rooms. The way
meat is stored here and disposed as waste completely violates the rules
laid down by the municipality, said G. Arun of the People for Cattle in
India, the organisation that spearheaded the Sunday morning crackdown.

The
sights at the venue are a testimony to his observation. Animal parts
overflow from small buckets kept on the sides, and are sent to markets
whenever needed. Discarded parts are dumped on the other side of the
wall.

Dogs, crows and barefooted children roam
nearby. The waste is cleared just once in six months when the stench
gets unbearable, residents say.

Nearly 200 butcher
families reside in the area. “We have been here all our lives, for
almost four generations. There is nothing else we can do to earn a
livelihood,” says Anandamma (62), a resident. 

Wednesday
and Saturday nights are when the maximum quantity of cattle, mostly
from Kancheepuram, are slaughtered. Carcasses hang from giant hooks on
the ceiling of a dingy store room.

“We supply to
almost nine Tasmac shops and 25 chicken centres in the area. With a lot
of migrant construction workers coming to this area, beef is in much
demand. Price of chicken has gone up,” says a butcher.  

Chromepet
municipality health officials say checks had been carried out at
the slaughter house a few months ago. Those who violated safety and
hygiene norms were warned. There was also a recent notification from the
Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.

“Officials may
fear the backlash from butchers’ families. But that does not mean they
turn a blind eye to the gross violations here,” says an activist.

Another
activist S.V. Badri said, “It is unfortunate that in a State where cows
are given for free as a welfare measure, they are also being illegally
transported and slaughtered.”

Besides quick arrests
of those responsible, the activists have also demanded a thorough
investigation in the case. “We saw at least 28 animals there in the
morning but by noon, they had been taken away. Only immediate action can
ensure some of them are rescued,” says Mr. Arun.