Pune, 3rd July, 2025: The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has ordered the immediate shutdown of the municipal slaughterhouse in Kondhwa, Pune’s only such facility, citing severe violations of environmental norms. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)-run slaughterhouse was found releasing untreated waste directly into the drainage system, ultimately contaminating the Mula-Mutha river.
The action was taken after repeated warnings and inspections over several months. On Wednesday, MPCB officials disconnected the facility’s power supply and issued a prosecution notice under the Water and Air Acts. However, PMC allegedly allowed the slaughterhouse to continue operations using diesel generators and did not stop the water supply, further aggravating the situation.
With the closure now in effect, the daily slaughter of nearly 100 animals has come to a standstill. This has sparked concerns of a potential meat shortage in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, particularly during the Ashad month, when demand typically rises. Traders and butchers say they are struggling to cope and warn of disruptions in the meat supply chain.
The situation has also raised alarms over the possibility of illegal slaughtering activities, which may increase in the absence of a functioning municipal facility. Experts and local health authorities fear this could lead to unhygienic practices and serious public health risks, as such activities often bypass veterinary inspections and safety checks.
The Kondhwa slaughterhouse, which dates back to the British era, has long been criticized for poor waste disposal practices. Residents of Nancy Garden and Wanowrie had filed complaints in February 2025, prompting MPCB to intervene. Despite several directives, the PMC failed to act, eventually forcing regulatory authorities to shut down the facility and initiate legal proceedings against those responsible.
