Haridwar bans raw meat sales across entire city ahead of 2027 Ardh Kumbh, traders to be relocated to outskirts

The Haridwar Municipal Corporation has approved a major decision to stop the sale of raw meat within the city limits ahead of the upcoming Ardh Kumbh Mela scheduled for early 2027, officials said on Monday, 6th April.

As part of the move, all raw meat shops operating in the municipal area will be shifted to Sarai village on the outskirts. The civic body has already built 56 shops there, and around 20 licensed shopkeepers have been identified. The remaining shops will be allotted based on demand. Officials said the bylaws will be amended, published in the gazette, and objections from the public will be invited before final implementation.

At present, the sale and consumption of meat, liquor, and eggs are banned within a 5-km radius of Har Ki Pauri, but the new decision extends this restriction to the entire municipal area. Mayor Kiran Jaisal called it a “landmark achievement” and said concerns raised by councillors would be looked into.

The proposal, however, saw opposition during the board meeting. Independent councillor Ahsan Ansari said the decision could impact over 100 businesses, as the number of shops in Sarai is far less than the number of affected traders. He also raised concerns that shifting shops far from busy areas would reduce customer footfall and affect livelihoods, especially for those near municipal borders who may continue operating.

Some councillors earlier also questioned whether the move would impact restaurants and even practices like Bakr Eid sacrifices, though no final call has been taken on cooked non-vegetarian food. Officials said this issue will be discussed separately in future meetings.

Along with this, the municipal board also cleared new rules for livestock and pets, making registration compulsory for those keeping more than five milch animals and for pet dogs, with penalties for violations.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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