Modernised Pulianthope abattoir to be open soon

CHENNAI: The modernisation work at the Chennai Corporation’s century-old slaughterhouse at Pulianthope is nearly over and the new facility would be inaugurated for business by the end of this month, said Mayor M Subramanian.“Keeping public health and hygiene in mind, Chennai Corporation decided to improve the standard of the slaughterhouse and the work was awarded to a Delhi-based Hind Agro Industries in 2009,” Subramanian told reporters after inspecting the final works at the slaughterhouse. Though attempts were made by the Chennai Corporation to rope in a contractor to take up the modernisation work for the past three decades, nothing materialised. At last, in 2009, the civic body identified the Hind Agro Industries for modernising the century-old abattoir, a prominent supplier of meat products for most parts of the city since 1903.Hind Agro Industries began the project in September 2009 under Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) basis with a concession period of 22 years, including the construction period of 20 months. It may be noted that the project cost would be borne by the private developer.Besides modernising the abattoir at a cost of Rs 48 crore, the operator (under the agreement) has to pay a concession fee of Rs 40 lakh per year till the facility was transferred to the Chennai Corporation after 20 years.The buildings are designed and constructed according to the Tamil Nadu Industries Department norms for which, license also has been obtained from the Chief Inspector of Factories in May 2011. The modern slaughterhouse, which has a capacity to slaughter 250 small animals and 60 large animals per hour, is designed as per the norms laid down by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries and those practiced in the European Union and the USA. Most part of the work has been completed. Once the final touches are given, the existing facility will be permanently shifted to the newly constructed additional facility.