The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has started inspecting the goats being sold in four major areas of the city to ensure the quality of meat during Dashain festival on Thursday.

Kathmandu Valley consumes around 60,000 goats during Dashain festival. To meet this demand, a large number of goats are imported from different parts of the country.

A monitoring team, led by Deputy Mayor Hari Prabha Khadgi, was accompanied by officials from District Livestock Service Office, Nepal Food Corporation, Nepal Agriculture Council, Nepal Police and KMC’s city police on the first day of inspection.

Khadgi visited Kalanki, Tukucha and Bijuli Bazaar for inspection. Other members of the monitoring team visited Balaju area.  

After inspecting the market, Khadgi said only seasonal monitoring will not be adequate to ensure the quality of meat that the people of Kathmandu Valley consume.

“The metropolis will give continuity to this campaign, even after the festive season,” she said.  

Hari Kumar Shrestha of Urban Health Division of the KMC said they found two sick goats and one dead one during their inspection round on Thursday.

 “We buried the dead goat. As for the sick ones, we have instructed their owner to sell them only after treating them,” said Shrestha.  “Consumers can buy goats without fear because we are making sure that only healthy goats are kept on sale this Dashain.”

The team inspected a total of 2,511 goats on the first day; 1,842 goats were inspected in Kalanki area, the biggest goat market in the Valley.   The inspection will run till Phulpati, October 16.

To separate the healthy goats from sick ones, the team has been marking the animals with green (healthy) and red (sick) paints.

Shrestha said unhealthy goats would be kept under medical observation for 24 hours.

“Their owners will be allowed to sell them only after securing veterinary clearance,” he added.