Mumbai: Deonar Abattoir to remain shut on September 4 and 7

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Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation announced that the Deonar Abattoir will remain shut on September 4 and September 7 in observance of Paryushan by the Jain community. BMC chief and administrator Bhushan Gagrani, in an order dated August 30, stated, "After taking into consideration, the various aspects of this issue, I have concluded that BMC will announce one day closure to slaughter during Paryushan Parva i.e. Bhadarva Sud Ekam, every year, which falls on 4th September 2024 this year. The department will, however, review the dates of closure in a year and ensure that the total number of days in a year does not exceed 15 days."

The BMC order further stated, "As per the Corporation Resolution C.R No.777 dated 09 October 2015, it is observed that Paryushan Parva is not included in the list of dates wherein the Deonar Abattoir will be kept closed. However, Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the days on which Deonar Abattoir will be kept closed, which co-incidentally also falls on Bhadrapad Shudh-4 falling in Paryushan Parva, hence, on 7h September 2024, Deonar Abattoir will be kept closed."

The Bombay High Court on August 29 had directed the civic bodies in the state including Mumbai to urgently consider and decide a temporary ban on animal slaughter and sale during Parushan Parva. The Sheth Motishaw Lalbaug Jain Charities had filed a petition in the high court seeking a direction.

The BMC was previously mulling over whether to keep the Abattoir shut. In a letter, BMC chief Gagrani previously stated that the meat from the slaughterhouse is supplied in Mumbai and the metropolitan region hence it would not be appropriate to make a decision in isolation.

The letter read, "Mumbai is a Cosmopolitan City, with a sizeable population of non-Jains and followers of Jain Ideology. It is a city of great diversity The people of various communities, sects, lingual and ethnic groups are the majority in number. There are communities, a class of people whose daily food comprises non-vegetarian food, covering meat of all sorts including mutton chicken, fish, seafood and eggs."

It further stated, "The Deonar Slaughter House supply is not limited to Mumbai City but almost covers the entire MMR Region. Hence, it will not be proper to decide this matter in isolation. The livelihood of people caretakers, labourers, butchers, and meat sellers is dependent upon the business of slaughtering animals and selling meat and related products. Therefore, keeping slaughter activities closed for the entire period will be unjust. At the same time, it is also necessary to respect the feelings of the Jain Community."