Abattoir: SC takes MCD to task

New Delhi, Aug 8 (UNI) The Supreme Court today frowned on the dissatisfactory progress in the construction of modern slaughter house at Ghazipur in East Delhi despite constant monitoring by the apex court and blamed the MCD for the mess.

A bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhan, S.B.Sinha and A.K. Mathur directed the MCD to immediately release Rs. 5 crores to the contractor so that last instalment of the machinery may be installed and the abattoir is made functional at the earliest.

The court while adjourning the hearing till Sept. 5 also told the MCD counsel," We know what is bureaucracy and bureaucracy means delay." The modernised slaughter house was to be made functional by June 30,2006 the deadline set by the apex court but it is still under construction.

The court had earlier blamed the civic body for escalation of the cost of the project from initial Rs. 85 crores to Rs. 165 crores.

The new slaughter house is to replace an outdated abattoir at Idgah in the walled city which is the main source of environmental pollution in the congested area in which it is located.

Counsel for the MCD told the court that the contractor had already received Rs. 85 crores and the work done by him was not satisfactory.

The effluent treatment plant is yet to be set up at the new abattoir which is to cost Rs. 8 crores and the contract for setting up the effluent treatment plant has reportedly been awarded to some other contractor by the MCD for Rs. 12 crores.

There has been demand by the opposition in the MCD for a CBI inquiry into the scandal and even the threats by the apex court that the work may be assigned to some other agency if the civic body failed to deliver have not worked.

UNI AKS/SC RP HT1942