The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) plans to set up 13 slaughterhouses

KATHMANDU, APR 17 -The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) plans to set up 13 slaughterhouses in various parts of the city in a couple of months.

The KMC effort to create an environment for distribution of safe meat as envisioned in the Slaughterhouse and Meat Inspection Act 2055 is heading towards success three years after metropolis first started groundwork. Though KMC formed a high level committee in 2008, things did not bear fruit.

Last year, another committee was formed, led by Babu Ram Gautam, chief of the Department of Public Health at the KMC. To accomplish the task, the government has allocated Rs 50,960,000 this fiscal year.

The Veterinary Public Health Office (VPHO), under the Department of Veterinary Service, which was assigned to select the contractor for the construction of slaughterhouses, invited tender from the cooperatives of meat entrepreneurs setting April 13 as the deadline. However, the department received only one proposal as the number of meat cooperatives is small in the Valley.

The department refused to reveal the name of the entrepreneurs on grounds of confidentiality. Dr Bodh Prasad Parajuli, chief of the department and committee member, said only one proposal had been received due to the strict terms and conditions for bidding.

Proposals were called a second time this year as what was sought last year from various entrepreneurs could not meet the prerequisites. Parajuli said the department has only begun the study on the proposal and will present it in the committee on Sunday.

“After it is verified by the committee, the report will be handed to the evaluation committee for final approval,” said Parajuli. “After verification, we will advise the KMC to let the contractor start construction work.” The department will allocate the budget to the KMC and look after the implementation part.

Gautam said construction will start once the proposal is endorsed. He added KMC was planning to set minimum criteria for meat shops to maintain quality.

According to KMC, there are 900 meat shops in the Valley while only two laughterhouses exist, in Tankeshwori and Huimat. (source : ekantipur)