Beastly tale
ANIMAL Rights International has accused the department of animal husbandry and dairy of the ministry of agriculture, of openly flouting rules by planning to set up abattoir-cum-carcass utilisation plants near 10 pre-selected Air Force airfields. According to the plan, (vide reference no: 3-34/95 fin) the slaughter houses will be set up at Hindon, Gwalior, Ambala, Sirsa, Bareilly, Tezpur, Jodhpur, Adampur, Pune and Dundigal. Laxmi Narayan Modi, executive director of the animal rights body has alleged that the plan is an attempt to .cover up sinister design of opening slaughter houses for public."
Air Force planes face a grave risk of bird-hits if the plan is carried out. The Aircraft Act 1934 does not permit any abattoir or carcass utilisation centre within 10 km from the boundaries of the airfields. The proposed plan does not make any mention about tackling proteinous waste material dumped by the abattoirs. Also, there is no proposal in the plan to deal with illegal and clandestine slaughter outside the airfields.