22-06-2025
Move to revise chicken shops' category shelved
Panaji:
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has decided to suspend its decision to re-categorise chicken/mutton shops in Goa as 'green category' industries, following objections from several animal welfare organisations.
Objecting to the re-categorising chicken/mutton shops as 'green category' industries, advocate Atish Mandrekar said that the Central Pollution Control Board categorises slaughterhouses as 'red category' industries. He said that the GSPCB based its decision on an exercise carried out by the Kerala Pollution Control Board. However, the GSPCB's decision is not in tune with the decision taken by the Kerala Pollution Control Board regarding the categorisation of such establishments, said the lawyer.
Rajendra Shah from the Animal Welfare Board and Gauri Maulekhi from People for Animals were among others who also objected to the re-categorisation.
'The board, by its decision taken at its 160th meeting, has permitted the slaughter of animals and birds in the chicken/mutton shops/centres in Goa, which is in gross violation of the established law, particularly the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, as well as judgements passed by the NGT in the Gauri Maulekhi case and the Animal Rescue Squad vs.
GSPCB matter,' Mandrekar said.
Mandrekar said that permitting slaughtering activity in the absence of adequate pollution control measures will cause environmental and health hazards in the vicinity. He therefore sought that the GSPCB quash its decision.
After hearing the submissions, and 'keeping in mind the Precautionary Principle of Environmental Jurisprudence', the board was of the opinion that it will be necessary to presently suspend the operation of the decision taken by the GSPCB for re-categorisation of chicken/mutton shops in Goa as 'green category' industries.
