The Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) has submitted a Rs. 3.06-crore
proposal to the State government for the construction of a modern
abattoir for small animals.

Though there was a small slaughter
house near Beedinagudde here about 12 years ago, it was shut down
because it was found to be too small. However, this move left the city
without a slaughter house. As a result, mutton stall owners had to make
their own arrangements for slaughtering sheep or goats. According to the
Udupi CMC, there are about 12 mutton stalls in the city. To deal with
this situation, the CMC has submitted a Detailed Project Report to the
government for the construction of a modern abattoir for small animals,
for approval. This abattoir is estimated to cost Rs. 3.06 crore.

This
abattoir will have pens for holding sheep and goats, a reception and an
office room, a cold storage room, a laboratory, a hides room, locker, a
dress change room, a by-products dispatch platform, a by-products room,
a dispatch block, and a veterinary doctor room. “We have identified
1.96 acres of land where the temporary fish market was located at
Beedinagudde for the construction of the modern abattoir. Since the
temporary fish market has been shifted to the new fish market on PPC
Road, this area could be used for the construction of the abattoir,”
said D. Manjunathaiah, CMC Commissioner.

“The Directorate of
Municipal Administration (DMA) has proposed to develop abattoirs in 47
towns and cities, including Udupi in the State. The DMA has approached
the Union Ministry of Food Processing for 50% grant under its scheme for
modernisation of abattoirs across the country,” said K. Raghavendra,
CMC Environment Engineer.

Meanwhile,
mutton stall owners are all for the construction of the modern
abattoir. Siddappa H. Aiholi, owner of the New Udupi Mutton Stall at the
Adiudupi fish market, said that four mutton stalls were sharing a small
room at the market for slaughtering purpose.

“About 20
goats/sheep are slaughtered daily here and it increases by three times
on Sundays. The facility here is clearly not enough. A modern abattoir
is needed,” he said.