Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Scraps Slaughterhouse Relocation Plan
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has officially withdrawn a controversial proposal to relocate a slaughterhouse at a cost of Rs 32 crore, just one day after it was included in the civic body's draft budget for 2026–27. The plan, which aimed to shift the existing facility from the Geeta Mandir area in the Walled City to a 15,882 square meter plot in Shahwadi, near the Pirana dump site under Behrampura ward, has been scrapped following strong objections from BJP legislators and local civic leaders.
Political Opposition Leads to Rollback
The rollback was announced on Thursday, after municipal commissioner Banchha Nidhi Pani presented the Rs 17,018 crore draft budget. Standing committee chairman Devang Dani confirmed that the proposal had been withdrawn after internal consultations, stating, "A decision has been taken to withdraw the proposal. It was included in the draft budget by the administration, but party MLAs and other civic leaders felt it was not appropriate." The strongest objection came from Ellisbridge MLA Amit Shah, who opposed the allocation immediately after the budget presentation. In a written message to the civic chief, Shah demanded the removal of the provision before budget finalization, arguing that allocating funds for a slaughterhouse contradicts the BJP's ideological stance. Shah recounted rejecting a similar proposal during his tenure as mayor, despite pressure from higher authorities.
Details of the Withdrawn Proposal
The now-withdrawn proposal outlined a "state-of-the-art" slaughterhouse designed to comply with Supreme Court directives and guidelines from central and state governments. Key features included round-the-clock availability of doctors, antemortem inspection rooms, chilling facilities, air-conditioned vehicles for animal transport, separate slaughter units for small and large cattle, a rendering plant, and an effluent treatment plant for blood and waste management to ensure environmental compliance. The relocation was intended to address concerns about the current location in Mirzapur under Jamalpur ward, situated between the Jagannath Temple and Geeta Temple. Jamalpur MLA Imran Khedawala noted that repeated requests had been made to shift the facility to avoid hurting religious sentiments, with representations from religious individuals.
Historical Context and Sensitive Nature
The slaughterhouse, originally established in 1903 under the Ahmedabad municipality and brought under AMC jurisdiction in 1950, has long been a point of contention. AMC chief Banchha Nidhi Pani explained that the proposal was withdrawn due to its sensitive nature and misunderstandings about its intent. He clarified, "This was about shifting the slaughterhouse from the present location to Behrampura ward, not constructing a new one. We were following the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the ministry of environment, forests and climate change guidelines. But since it is a sensitive issue, the proposal has been withdrawn." Pani added that the standing committee had been informed of the decision.
Next Steps and Budget Implications
With the withdrawal, the issue is expected to be formally discussed in the standing committee, after which the provision will be removed from the draft budget. This move highlights the ongoing tensions between administrative planning and political ideologies in urban governance, particularly in matters involving religious and environmental sensitivities. The scrapping of the relocation plan underscores the influence of local political figures in shaping municipal decisions, as the AMC navigates the complexities of modernizing infrastructure while respecting community values and party principles.
