Meat prices likely to soar after festival

Industry experts say Navratra will ‘soften the blow’ of shortage in national capital

The supply of meat has been hit hard in the Indian capital due to the crackdown on illegal abattoirs and the meat sellers’ strike in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh but the real impact will be felt only after the nine-day-long Navratra.

Industry experts said the festival, during which Hindus generally abstain from eating non-vegetarian food, will “soften the blow” of shortage of meat as its consumption comes down by around 50 per cent during the period in Delhi.

An official in Ghazipur wholesale meat market said supply of goats from Uttar Pradesh has totally stopped since the crackdown on slaughterhouses and the ensuing strike in UP.

A meat wholesaler said some suppliers from Uttar Pradesh, who have licences to run their business, have also stopped sending goats fearing attacks by vigilantes.

Traders said the shortage of supply will not affect Delhi until after the Navratra though marginal increase in mutton prices has been in some areas.

Garish Oberoi, vice-president of Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India, said chicken and mutton supply to hotel industry has not been affected significantly. He, however, said buffalo meat supply has been hit hard. “The impact would taper off eventually as the government, we hope, would take steps to streamline the licensing norms,” he told PTI.

No supply for days

reported

Meat sellers at Ghazipur Mandi in East Delhi are anticipating a rise in prices if the strike continues in UP.

“As Delhi doesn’t have livestock farms, the city only relies on UP, Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana. Earlier, around 20 trucks loaded with goats used to come to Ghazipur Mandi every day from Uttar Pradesh. There has been no supply from UP in the last few days. We are currently depending on supplies from Punjab and Rajasthan,” said Mohammad Atiq, a wholesaler of goat meat.

“The real impact of the crackdown on slaughter houses in Delhi will be felt once the Navratras ends,” general secretary of Ghazipur poultry market association Mohammad Saleem said.

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