Bhopal: BMC asked to identity alternate site for Maida Mill Road abattoir

Taking a tough stand on Bhopal's only slaughterhouse violating environmental norms, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday directed the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) to identify an alternate site within two months so that the abattoir can be shifted.

The central bench of the NGT asked the civic body to submit the proposed plan for the shifting, construction and development of the slaughterhouse at Maida Mill Road.

The two-member bench of the environment watchdog issued these directions while hearing a case filed by Vinod Kumar Kori.

Kori had filed a petition seeking the closure of the abattoir on the ground that it was releasing large quantities of untreated solid and effluent waste into a nearby nallah.

Kori had argued that the slaughterhouse was operating without the consent of the State Pollution Control Board.

The NGT on Friday said a detailed project report on the construction of the slaughterhouse had already been submitted before the state government but no final decision had been taken in the issue.

The tribunal noted: "We are of the view that within the next two months, the BMC shall submit its proposal after taking into consideration all possible angles as well as objections, if any, of the local residents. After considering the same, we will come to a decision with regard to a suitable site with minimum objections or difficulty in establishment of the same, considering the people involved at the present site at Jehangirabad."

The next hearing in the case is on August 19.