Mutton prices may go up as BMC set to hike abattoir charges

Price of mutton may go up as Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to increase the rates at its Deonar abattoir, the biggest producer of meat in the city.

The civic body on Friday informed its plans to revise the schedule of rates as well as hike the slaughtering charges by 10 per cent in order to bridge the gap between revenue collection and expenditure made on providing the service. In 2012-13, BMC garnered revenue of Rs17.58 crore as against expenses of Rs20.79 crore.

"We have decided to increase the slaughtering rates for animals like goat/sheep, bullocks, pigs, etc. in the coming year. As per norms, we are required to revise the schedule of rates every three years. So, if we don't revise the rates now, then we are set to suffer loss again," said AE Pawra, general manager (in-charge), Deonar abattoir.

Pawra said the hike in slaughtering rates will directly affect the charges of the commodity in markets. The BMC has 189 chambers where goats/sheep are purchased and mutton is sold. As per the statistics made available, around 30,000 goats/sheep are purchased/sold on Tuesdays and Saturdays every week at the abattoir.

The rise in mutton price will most probably be commensurate with the hike BMC will propose, the official said.

"We, however, will require the standing committee's approval for the hike. So, it will take a few months before we increase the charges," added Pawra.

On asked, Sudhakar Shetty, former president of Association of Hotels and Restaurants (AHAR), said in case the slaughtering charges go up, then the hoteliers will have no option but to increase charges of the food served.

"Even if BMC increases the charges, we will have to first wait and see if the rates are slashed later. If they are not, then we will have to hike our prices. But we will not jump into increasing rates in a hurried manner," Shetty said.

Under the axe
Slaughter charges: Rs20 per goat/sheep
Goats/sheep slaughtered daily: 5,500
Sent to local market: 3,000 (goats/sheep)
Exported: 2,500 (goats/sheep)
Sunday slaughtering: 4,000 (goats/sheep)
Average mutton prices in city: Rs400 to Rs600 per kg

2012-13 statistics
Revenue collected: Rs17,58,14,655
Expenditure: Rs20,79,22,291.42
Goats/sheep slaughtered for local market: 4,75,207
Exported: 5,58,004