The amendments, focusing on critical aspects such as license fees, penalties, and shop locations, were proposed in response to demands from the meat trading community.
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – Meat sellers in the national capital heaved a huge sigh of relief as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has significantly reduced the mandatory minimum distance for opening meat shops near religious places.
The distance rules set in October had created several problems for meat sellers who had been vociferously demanding reversal of the rules governing their shops. The October policy increased the distance from 100 meters to 120 meters; however, the newly approved proposal suggests reverting it back to 100 meters.
Councilors Sultana Khan and Aamil Malik presented a private member’s bill on December 28, garnering government approval.
Additionally, the amendments cover adjustments to license fees and fines for rule violations. The fee for new shop licenses and renewals, initially increased to Rs 7,000, is now proposed to be set at Rs 5,000. The minimum space requirement for opening a meat shop in A category colonies has also been reduced to 10 square meters, allowing establishments on properties of 50/sq.m instead of the previous 60/sq.m. The proposal further seeks to decrease fines for opening a sealed meat shop from Rs 50,000 to Rs 10,000.
The AAP government aims to alleviate challenges faced by small meat traders. The amendments, focusing on critical aspects such as license fees, penalties, and shop locations, were proposed in response to demands from the meat trading community. Councilor Sultana Khan, presenting the resolution, emphasised the need to adopt the policy to alleviate difficulties faced by meat sellers.
Irshad Baba, general secretary of the Delhi Meat Merchants Association, expressed frustration over the formulation and passing of the policy without prior consultation with meat traders. Following discussions with corporation officials, including the deputy mayor, the corporation has agreed on four crucial matters: reducing the distance from religious places, revising fines, adjusting the required shop area, and modifying license fees.