Beef shortage continues in State; Situation likely to persist for few more days
AMN / Panaji
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday said that no body could stop legal business of beef.
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of a function near the city, he said no body could stop legal beef trade in the state and beef traders could carry legal documents and produce them if demanded and continue with their business.
The Chief Minister, however, said that instructions had been issued to the top officials in the state to take strict action against the illegal business of beef.
Parrikar said that no action will be initiated against those vehicles which transport beef and has all the legal documents in place.
“Those involved in legal beef trade or supply will face no action. I have issued directions to police accordingly. There is no need to panic,” he said.
Meanwhile shortage of beef in Goa continued on Sunday as a result of indefinite strike call given by the beef traders.
The situation is likely to persist for few more days as the slaughter houses from Karnataka have refused to supply meat till action is taken against the cow vigilantes.
The beef traders from the State have given call for indefinite state wide strike and stopped importing the commodity from Belagavi in Karnataka following confiscation of their vehicle on border allegedly at the behest of the groups including Gau Raksha Abhiyaan.
Moreover, with the Goa Meat Complex, the government-run abattoir at Usgao, being shut for last three months, there is no possibility of immediate beef supply to the traders, putting the consumers to major hardship, especially in the peak wedding season.
Goa consumes around 2,400 kg of beef daily and with the state-run abattoir that supplied around 2,000 kg daily shut, traders have been forced to import beef from Karnataka.
Beef traders on Saturday met Chief Minister on the issue seeking his immediate intervention in the matter.
Earlier, All Goa Qureshi Meat Traders’ Association president Manna Bepari said the traders, hotels and other consumers are left without beef since last two days due to current crisis.
He also said that the non-availability of beef has resulted in the rise in the prices of mutton and chicken in the State. “This is the peak season for tourism as well as festive and weddings. Hence the demand for beef is high. They (vigilantes) are targeting only the beef traders. We don’t understand why?” he questioned.
