After yrs of oppn, animal carcass centre in UT all set for rollout
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Chandigarh: After waiting for years, Chandigarh is all set to get its first modernised
animal carcass disposal centre
. The municipal corporation has completed the construction work and applied for consent to operate (CTO) with the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) to execute the project on the ground.
Equipped with the latest technology, the centre is environmental friendly and constructed according to the guidelines of the central govt.Spread over approximately half an acre in Raipur Kalan, the project has a dual facility of an electric heater as well as a gasifier to dispose of dead animals scientifically. The centre, built at a cost of around Rs 2 crore, took around six months for completion."The animal carcass centre was originally a project of the Chandigarh Smart City Limited, which planned and did all the required paperwork. Since the project has been given to a private company for a five-year period, the successful bidder will maintain the centre and ensure its proper functioning. Out of the total cost, around Rs 1.7 crore was spent on construction, while the remaining around Rs 30 lakh is kept for operation and maintenance (O&M). The CPCC is the main authority to give consent by verifying all the environmentally friendly and guideline aspects, so it will go through the entire technical and environmental aspects. MC has already applied for a consent to operate," MC officials said.The establishment of the animal carcass centre had faced significant resistance from both citizens and municipal councillors, who had strongly opposed its construction in their localities. The initial proposal for Sector 25 had to be abandoned due to public opposition, forcing the authorities to consider the Industrial Area, which also met with resistance. Despite assurances from officials about the use of advanced technology that would prevent odour, smoke, and gas emissions, their attempts to convince the public proved unsuccessful. Ultimately, the authorities selected an isolated location in Raipur Kalan for the facility. The centre represents a shift from the previous practice of burying dead animals to a more scientific disposal method at the dedicated facility.Years of delay The project had been hanging fire for years since the need for a permanent animal carcass incinerator was first felt. The tendering for the project has also been done multiple times and finally the work was also allotted.But the project failed to take off mainly because of the controversies surrounding its location.The project, tendering process for which was undertaken by the Chandigarh Smart City Ltd (CSCL), has seen the proposed site shifting multiple times. The sites included Sector 25 and Industrial Area Phase-1.There was strong opposition from the local residents. Residents of Sector 38, Sector 25 and Dadumajra vehemently opposed the plant in their area. The plant faced similar opposition when it was proposed to be set up in Industrial Area.Similar opposition elsewhere It was not only in Chandigarh where the carcass centre project faced strong opposition. In Ludhiana, a similar facility constructed under the Smart City Mission in Noorpur village has remained non-operational since its completion in July 2021. The facility, designed for
scientific disposal of animal remains
, faced opposition from local residents even before its official launch. Despite administrative efforts to commence operations, the plant has remained dormant. Although it briefly operated for approximately a week during MP elections following National Green Tribunal directives, local farmers and villagers continued their protests. Former MP Ravneet Singh Bittu participated in the demonstrations, leading to a police complaint being filed against him after he padlocked the facility's entrance.
Currently, authorities are exploring alternative locations for the facility. However, each proposed site has met with strong resistance from local communities, creating an ongoing challenge for the project's implementation.
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