Saharanpur, May 24
Supply of meat of dead animals by a contractor has been endangering the health of carnivores at the Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park (Chhat Bir) located along the Chandigarh-Patiala highway, near Chandigarh.

Raids and arrest of a labourer at a makeshift slaughterhouse located in the Kolagarh locality here recently have exposed the nefarious goings-on. The supply of meat of buffalos, which die of diseases and other reasons, is in violation of the guidelines of the Central Zoo Authority.

Sources allege that the dead animals of the local civic body and those, which die during transportation, are also finding their way to the Kolagarh slaughterhouse.

The contractor has been supplying meat by taking a quality certificate from the veterinary doctor concerned, who allegedly hardly examines the animals physically before their slaughter.

The unchecked buffalo meat supplied by the contractor, Mr Inaam Qureshi, is being consumed by over 60 carnivores since April 1.

Following a complaint by a local meat supplier to the Commissioner and the District Magistrate, a team of veterinary doctors conducted a raid at the makeshift slaughterhouse owned by Mr Qureshi and nabbed one of his employees. Four other employees of the contractor, however, managed to escape.

The complainant had alleged that the contractor, who supplies about 480 kg of meat to the zoo, had quoted a rate of Rs 13.68 per kg as compared to last year’s rate of Rs 19.86 per kg. The low price quoted by the contractor raised doubts about the quality as the meat was available at a rate of Rs 25 to 30 per kg in the open market here.

Investigations by a Tribune team revealed that the contractor has been collecting dead animals from the city and surrounding areas and supplying their meat to the Chhat Bir zoo after skinning them in a filthy makeshift slaughterhouse.

The meat suppliers in Kawela Colony here revealed that meat of only dead animals could be available at such low prices. They also alleged that this was in connivance with the veterinary officer of the State Veterinary Hospital of Saharanpur.

They claimed that they had already informed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Punjab, and the Director of the Chhat Bir zoo about the illegal supply.

“It is not possible to supply good quality meat at Rs 13.68 per kg,” admitted Mr Qureshi, adding that it was for the zoo authorities to check the meat quality.

Mr Umadhar Dwivedi, DM of Saharanpur, was not available for comment.

Mr A.S. Dogra, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, when contacted, expressed ignorance in this regard. He, however, claimed that the authorities relied on the certificate issued by the veterinary officer concerned.