Kochi corporation plans to entrust abattoir project at Kaloor to new agency due to delays
Kochi: With Impact Kerala, the agency entrusted with the construction of a modern slaughterhouse in Kaloor, failing to start the project, Kochi corporation is exploring alternatives to set up the facility.
The corporation authorities have started talks with a Kolkata-based firm to set up the abattoir.
Though the project was designed more than a decade ago, the work was entrusted to Impact Kerala and the agency was sitting on the project for the past two years. "The Impact Kerala authorities are not responding to our queries. Recently, they informed us about roping in a contractor to start the work. When we asked them to brief us about the project, they failed to do so," said corporation health standing committee chairman T K Asharaf.
Though TOI contacted Impact Kerala officials regarding the progress of the project, they didn't respond.
"We will be able to take a final decision on the project only if the agency makes a presentation. If they fail to give the details, we are planning to rope in another agency. We have already held talks with a Kolkata-based firm. If Impact Kerala is ready to continue with the project at Kaloor, we can entrust the work on an abattoir at Marakkadavu in Mattancherry to the Kolkata-based firm," Asharaf said.
The condition of the existing abattoir owned by the corporation at Kaloor continues to be pathetic. The pollution control board (PCB) ordered the closure of the slaughterhouse citing shortcomings in treating the waste generated while culling the animals. The corporation authorities were forced to close down the facility on Sept 26, 2022. Following the corporation's request to run the existing abattoir for six more months to facilitate the local body to construct a new one, PCB granted the nod for operating the slaughterhouse on a temporary basis.
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