What Srinagar’s new ₹25.87 crore mechanized abattoir means for meat hygiene and environment

Ziraat Times Team Report

SRINAGAR, AUGUST 21: Srinagar is set to get a modern mechanized sheep and goat abattoir with the capacity to process around 5,000 livestock daily, a facility expected to bring a major transformation in meat hygiene, food safety, sanitation, animal handling and environmental management in the city.

The ₹25.87 crore facility, coming up at Allochi Bagh, is envisaged as a state-of-the-art meat-processing infrastructure designed to replace unregulated and conventional slaughtering practices with a scientifically managed, hygienic and environmentally responsible system.

The large processing capacity of the facility will enable it to cater to a substantial share of Srinagar’s daily meat-processing requirements while introducing modern systems for slaughtering, carcass handling, processing, chilling, cold storage, sanitation and by-product management.

Once operational, the abattoir is expected to significantly improve hygiene conditions associated with meat processing, strengthen food-safety mechanisms and provide safer and more regulated working conditions for people involved in slaughtering and meat handling.

A particularly significant aspect of the project is its emphasis on environmental protection and scientific waste management. The facility will incorporate a bio-digestion system and an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) for treating organic waste and wastewater generated during operations.

The systems are designed to reduce the organic pollution load, control foul odour, facilitate resource recovery and enable the reuse of treated water for suitable non-potable purposes. This could substantially reduce the environmental and public-health impacts traditionally associated with poorly managed slaughterhouse waste.

The project is also expected to strengthen veterinary supervision and quality-control mechanisms, while establishing an integrated and regulated system covering animal handling, slaughtering, meat processing, refrigeration, sanitation and waste disposal.

The construction of the modern mechanized Sheep & Goat Abattoir, including testing and commissioning, is being undertaken on EPC mode under CAPEX/SASCI.

The project is being implemented by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation and is being projected as a major urban infrastructure intervention that could set a new benchmark for hygienic and environmentally sustainable meat-processing facilities in Jammu & Kashmir.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah laid the foundation stone of the facility on Wednesday, describing the project as an important step towards bringing Srinagar’s meat-processing infrastructure in line with contemporary standards.

Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Gurwinder Singh Oberoi, MLA Lal Chowk Sheikh Ahsan Ahmed, Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation Fazl ul Haseeb and other concerned officers were present on the occasion.

The facility, once completed, is envisaged to emerge as one of the largest dedicated mechanized sheep and goat abattoirs in the country, combining high processing capacity with modern standards of hygiene, food safety, animal handling, waste treatment and environmental protection.