Skinning of animals goes unabated at garbage dump

AMRITSAR: The practice of skinning dead animals continues at Bhagtawala garbage dump yard in an illegal manner due to the absence of any authorised haddorori where dead animals are skinned and lack of scientific methods for dumping and skinning animals

Updated At : 06:54 AM Nov 29, 2015 IST

Animal waste from carcasses can be found lying in the open.

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 28

The practice of skinning dead animals continues at Bhagtawala garbage dump yard in an illegal manner due to the absence of any authorised haddorori (where dead animals are skinned) and lack of scientific methods for dumping and skinning animals.

Animal waste like bones can be found scattered on a portion of the garbage dump while the authorities concerned, including the Municipal Corporation and the Punjab Pollution Control Board, have failed to take cognizance and stop the practice.

Ironically, in July 2013 the MC had passed a resolution for providing land for setting up carcass utilisation centre following the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. However, it has failed to provide land even after the passage of the two years. Interestingly except land, the project involves no finances from the government as it will be financed by the National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NBARD).

The Pollution Control Committee (PCC), a city-based NGO, had filed a public interest litigation in the High Court in 2006 against the peeling of skin from dead animals at the dump yard in the open. PS Bhatty, president of the PCC, said, “In 2013 the High Court issued a notice to the MC following which it passed a resolution No. 46 on July 16, 2013, for providing land in Bharariwal village for setting up a carcass utilisation centre.” He said, “Even the Punjab government through the secretary Local Bodies had given its go ahead for providing the land as per rule.”

“What interests more is that the National Leather Research Institute, Chennai, has developed a technique to utilise carcass and produce bio-gas from it,” he added. Bhatty said, “Rather the MC will earn from this project, which will be operated and run by the contracting party.”

However, even after the lapse of over two years, the Municipal Corporation has failed to provide the land for the carcass utilisation centre for the reasons best known to the authorities concerned. Bhatty urged the MC to take immediate steps for sanctioning land for the project.