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Near-death of a death-house: Goa attempts to revive meat complex

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

The Union Cabinet is expected to take up the issue of allowing Goa from not levying the exorbitant amount of central service tax on animal slaughter, since the sole meat complex in the tourist state is in the red.

Work at the abattoir, run by the state-sponsored Goa Meat Complex, has been badly affected: the rate of slaughter is down from 150 animals to 15 animals a day. The BJP-led coalition government's new taxation policy imposes service tax of Rs 1,000 for every animal.

According to Goa Chief Minister dr Wilfred de Souza, Union Agriculture Minister Sompal has agreed to exclude Goa from levying the Centre's countrywide taxation policy. Realising that the respective section in the Finance Bill is yet to be notified, dr de Souza has also requested the Centre not to notify it without necessary modifications.

The meat complex was not only providing hygienic meat to the local customers in the state, but was exporting it to the Middle East. But the exports have totally stopped now, while sale of unhygienic meat in the village markets is causing serious concern from the health point of view.

With the manpower of around a hundred people, the meat complex earned around Rs 3 million per month. But the five-year contract expired in May after which no one came forward to sign the new contract due to the exorbitant tax.

While lobbying with ministers in New Delhi, Dr de Souza has requested the Centre to clarify whether the meat can be sold at the old rates in Goa till final decision is taken in this regard.