The Centre has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that bringing slaughterhouses and meat processing units under the purview of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 is unnecessary, citing existing guidelines and safeguards for environmental regulation.
Last year, animal rights activist Gauri Maulekhi petitioned the NGT, advocating for the inclusion of slaughterhouses and meat processing units under the EIA, 2006, citing concerns such as excessive water consumption, improper solid waste disposal leading to water body contamination, and the risk of zoonotic diseases from exposure to unhealthy carcasses.
In a recent affidavit submitted to the NGT, the Union Environment Ministry referenced a report by an eight-member working group, established by the ministry in August the previous year, to support its stance. The ministry emphasized that current guidelines and safeguards adequately address environmental concerns related to slaughterhouses and meat processing units.
“The regulation framework and oversight by agencies including district magistrates, pollution control boards, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), and Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development (APEDA) are deemed sufficient to address environmental issues,” stated the ministry in its affidavit.
Highlighting the redundancy of incorporating such units into the EIA, 2006 framework, the ministry stated, “There will be no significant value addition by bringing such units under the ambit of EIA, 2006 as only the issue is the implementation of the regulations already in place.”
The ministry attributed concerns raised by Maulekhi to the presence of unorganized slaughterhouses and meat processing units, suggesting that the working group’s recommendations prioritize their modernization.
The working group’s report identified illegal slaughterhouses with a capacity of up to nine animals as posing “significant environmental damage” and emphasized the need for improved regulation and monitoring. It recommended the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) coordinate with state-level monitoring committees to crack down on illegal slaughterhouses and facilitate their transition into the organized sector.
Furthermore, the report advocated for funding from state or central governments to support expansion and modernization efforts aimed at curbing illegal slaughtering activities. It underscored the importance of enhancing infrastructure, particularly waste management systems.
The report also called for intensified inspections by the FSSAI to ensure compliance with food safety standards and pollution norms before granting licenses to slaughterhouses.