This came to light after as many as four slaughter houses in Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) were found to be distributing meat in the market without renewing their licences.

Inaytole, one of the biggest slaughter areas in Kathmandu where up to 200 buffalos are killed each day to meet the city’s ever growing demand, is seen as one of the worst in the Capital in terms of hygiene issues. Over 2,200 kg of meat Inaytole distributes throughout Kathmandu Valley each day is considered highly unsafe for consumption due to poor hygienic conditions and practices in the slaughter area. Livestocks are often found being slaughtered for their meat in dirty, foul-smelling  areas. The meat distribution are found to be violating the Animal Slaughterhouse and Meat Inspection Act, 1999.

There are altogether 11 designated slaughter areas in KMC, which includes Inaytole, Baudha, Swayambhu, Kankeshawori, Thankot and Kirtipur.

The 14-year-old Act clearly instructs slaughterhouses to conduct ante-mortem inspection of livestock before beheading the animals. Furthermore, the Act also bars selling or distribution of meat of dead animals. Similarly, meat with skin around it or adulterated buffalo meat are also not allowed.

At least 62 percent of the buffalo meat consumers are affected with various communicable diseases due to consumption of unhygienic and unexamined buffalo meat.

“Some slaughterhouses in Inaytol even send meat of dead buffaloes into the market,” a butcher in Inaytole slaughter area said. Everyday the meat of atleast 3 to 5 buffalo carcasses are sent by the slaughterhouses to the market for consumption, he said.

Bal Krishna Khadgi, chairman of Slaughter House Promotion Committee, denied the allegation made by the anonymous worker. Khadgi, who also owns a registered slaughterhouse named Kathmandu Adhunik Badshala, said around 1300 buffaloes are killed each day throughout the country to cater to the growing demand of buffalo meat.

“People risk serious infections consuming unhealthy meat,” said Dr Anjir Mann Singh of Animal Health and Livestock Services section. In addition of tuberculosis, people who consume unhealthy meat could suffer from food poisoning, typhoid, dysentery, and diarrhea, he added.