Jiyaguda abattoir proposed to be built under EPC mode

The Hindu

2 days ago

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has proposed to construct the much delayed modern abattoir at Jiyaguda under the EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) mode of contract, with the cost totally footed by the Corporation.
It is learnt from reliable sources that proposals have been approved by the GHMC Commissioner and forwarded to the government for approval. After the government's approval, orders will soon be issued, shared the officials.
The EPC mode has been proposed after an earlier proposal to build the slaughterhouse under the Public-Private-Partnership ran into rough weather, stalling the project before it could start.
In 2018, the government had accorded administrative sanction for design, and construction of the modern slaughterhouse for sheep and goat at Jiyaguda under 'Design, Finance, Build, Operate, Own and Transfer' mode, at an estimated cost of ₹42.5 crore.
It was proposed then, to allow the stakeholders from the butcher and related communities, to organise into cooperatives and participate in the auction. The concessionaire was to operate the slaughterhouse for 33 years, and pay annual lease amount to the GHMC to be revised annually. Tenders were called four times, and concessionaire was selected.
'The idea of cooperatives failed eventually, when there were internal disagreements about footing the bill. They have given to GHMC in writing that they could not proceed with the construction, and that GHMC could go ahead with tenders,' shared an official.
Other hiccups pertained to grant of environmental clearance from the Telangana Pollution Control Board as the proposed abattoir is on the banks of Musi River.
After construction of the facility, another round of tenders will be floated to select the concessionaire for operation and maintenance of the slaughterhouse, the official said.
The existing GHMC abattoirs at Ramnaspura, Amberpet, and New Bhoiguda are all operated under the same mode, and Jiyaguda will be the fourth in the line.
Modernisation of the abattoirs is being actively pursued by the state government after Supreme Court's directions. All the conventional slaughterhouses have been closed where the operations were manual and unhygienic.