The Vellore Corporation is all set to get two more slaughterhouses in
the city, in addition to the one existing in Makhan Junction on the
Bangalore Road.

Officials of the corporation conducted bhoomi-puja
on Friday for the construction of a slaughterhouse at Thiruvalluvar
Nagar, in Kangeyanallur, at a cost of Rs 50 lakh. The  officials said,
the slaughterhouse would be opened for public use within four months of
its construction.

Commissioner P Janaki Raveendran said, the
Corporation had issued the work order for the construction of the second
slaughter house at Sadhupperi Road at a cost of Rs 50 lakh.

The
corporation took cognizance of the practice of the illegal slaughter of
animals that was being carried out on the Palar river bed in Katpadi.The
corporation issued notice to 30 meat shop owners who were found to be
involved in illegal slaughter of animals.

Following this, the
members of the Maattu Iraichi Viyabarigal Nala Sangam appealed to the
local body to issue licences for their shops. They also noted that the
then Vellore municipality had designated a place for slaughtering of
cows 17 years ago, which is next to the present goat slaughter unit in
Makhan Junction. But, a veterinary hospital had been  constructed at
that spot, leaving no space for a slaughterhouse for cows.

President
of the sangam V S Babu said around 81 shops were involved in the
slaughter and sale of meat in the city. After the notice from the local
body was received, the shop owners began purchasing meat from other
parts of the districts for sale in Vellore.

Mayor P Karthiyayini
said, the possibility of allocating one of the two new slaughterhouses
for slaughtering cows would be studied and decided.