A total ban on illegal slaughter houses was imposed by the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal in Chennai on Thursday.

A bench of judicial member Justice M Chockalingam and expert member R Nagendran, which imposed the ban, ordered notice to Chennai Corporation Commissioner and TN Pollution Control Board, with a direction to file a detailed action taken report, on December 6.

On a petition from People for Cattle in India, the bench directed the officials concerned to take punitive action against persons operating illegal slaughter houses and ban such houses immediately.

The petitioner had sought for a direction to ban the illegal slaughter houses since they were causing environmental hazards, and to prevent illegal trafficking of cattle. The petitioner also sought appropriate action against those committing the offence.  When the petition came up for hearing, Kausik, the counsel for the petitioner, submitted that over 70 such illegal slaughter houses are functioning in Chennai and they could  be spotted in Chrompet, Karimedu, Kattankulathur (near Sivanandha Ashram), Little Mount, Medavakkam Junction, Velachery Lake Road, Taramani Link Road, Sholinganallur, Vanagaram, Ayanampakkam, Thirumangalam Junction and Avadi Railway Station.