Meat traders warn of stir if not given licences by April 20
LUCKNOW: Meat traders of the state capital on Monday warned of a stir after April 20, if their licences were not renewed by the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) by then. But LMC officials said they would give licences only to traders who fulfill norms.
Ashfaq Qureshi of Jamait-ulQuresh (UP) and Lucknow Bakra Gosht Vyapar Mandal said though most of the meat shops were being renovated to fulfill norms, authorities should understand problems of vendors and relax procedure for licences.
“After April 20, we will stage protest in a democratic way if the licences are not renewed,” he said.
Licences of around 400 meat sellers were pending with the LMC. Of these, around 50 licences had been reissued. However, 155 were set to lose their licence as their shops are located within 50 metres of religious places. Many of these shops have to be shifted to other places for renewal of licences.
LMC sources said the municipality was trying hard to come up with a workable formula for meat traders. Ashfaq Qureshi said, “The main problem in Lucknow is absence of slaughterhouses. We have urged authorities to look into the matter.”
Chief veterinary officer AK Rao said LMC will work according to rules laid down for meat trade.
“There is no chance of relaxing norms for anything, right from slaughter, transport, processing and sale of slaughtered animals,” he added.