Animal slaughter in the open: Cabinet decides to amend laws

UP Municipal Corporations Act, 1959 and UP Nagar Palika Act, 1916 to be amended through ordinances to redefine work of civic bodies as regulators for slaughter houses

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Wednesday decided to amend Uttar Pradesh Municipal Corporations Act 1959 and Uttar Pradesh Nagar Palika Act 1916 through ordinances to redefine work of state’s civic bodies as regulators for slaughter houses and completely ban slaughtering of animals outside the modern slaughterhouses (except for religious purposes). Chief minister Yogi Adityanath presided over meeting of the state cabinet that also approved Metro Rail projects of about Rs 45000 crore for Agra, Kanpur and Meerut.

LUCKNOW:Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Wednesday decided to amend Uttar Pradesh Municipal Corporations Act 1959 and Uttar Pradesh Nagar Palika Act 1916 through ordinances to redefine work of state’s civic bodies as regulators for slaughter houses and completely ban slaughtering of animals outside the modern slaughterhouses (except for religious purposes).

After its installation on March 15, 2017, the Yogi Adityanath government had been running a campaign against functioning of illegal slaughterhouses and amendments to the existing laws will mean a complete ban on animal slaughter outside the modern slaughterhouses. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath presided over meeting of the state cabinet that also approved Metro Rail projects of about Rs 45000 crore for Agra, Kanpur and Meerut.

Briefing media persons, government spokesman and minister for medical and health Sidharth Nath Singh said the provisions of Uttar Pradesh Municipal Corporations Act 1959 and Uttar Pradesh Nagar Palika Act 1916 were in direct conflict with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (slaughterhouse) Rules 2001that bars slaughtering animals except in the slaughterhouses situated in urban areas. He said the existing laws were also in conflict with Food Safety and Standard Act 2006.

Singh said the existing provisions that provide for civic bodies to construct, operate and regulate slaughter houses would be changed. Singh said amendments to the two acts will take away from the civic bodies the role to construct and operate slaughter houses. He said amended law will make the civic bodies as regulator for the slaughter houses. He said slaughtering of animals outside slaughterhouses would be banned and a separate policy would be brought to set up the new slaughterhouses.

The cabinet also approved amendment to section 24 (a) of United Provinces Excise Act 1910 to allow consumption of liquor in model shops. The government’s rules provided for consumption for liquor in model shops but a Public Interest Litigation had challenged this provision and the Allahabad High Court had found sale of liquor for consumption in model shops against provisions of section 24 (a) of United Provinces Excise Act 1910. UP has 385 model shops and government expects to earn a revenue of Rs 1221.72 crore from them.

An umbrella support agreement to be signed with National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for transfer of state highways to the NHAI was also approved. The cabinet approved a proposal to set up permanent Lok Adalat in 24 districts in third phase. A proposal to expand

crushing capacity of cooperative sector sugar mill of UP Cooperative Sugar Mills Federation Ltd situated at Ramala (Baghpat) from 2750 TCD to 5000 TCD and

set up 27 MW co-generation plant there was approved. The cabinet approved a proposal to close down unit No 8 of Obra Thermal Power project that exceeded 36

years against its life of 25 years. The state cabinet decided to cancel the contract to the BHEL for repair and maintenance of the plant.