T’puram: The engineering wing of the city corporation began an inspection at the modern slaughterhouse at Kunnukuzhy on Saturday to ascertain whether the effluent treatment plant (ETP) installed at the facility is functioning properly. The inspection is expected to continue for another three to four days, with the civic body likely to take a final decision on the plant’s functioning next week.The inspection began as part of efforts to resolve the prolonged dispute between the operation and maintenance agency, MR Farms, and Kerala Electrical and Allied Engineering Company (KEL), which implemented the project. The disagreement over the ETP’s performance has been a major hurdle in making the slaughterhouse fully operational despite the facility receiving the necessary clearance from the state pollution control board earlier this year.As part of the test, the corporation plans to bring around one lakh litres of water to the facility and run it through the treatment plant to assess its performance. Officials will examine the different stages of the treatment process before determining whether the system can handle the effluent generated during slaughterhouse operations.“The testing has started well without any problems, but it will take a few more days to complete. There are several processes and procedures involved, so it cannot be completed in a single day. Hopefully, the ETP will be fully functional,” said chief veterinary surgeon of the city corporation Dr Sreerag Jayan.The corporation is expected to assess the findings and decide on the further course of action by the middle of next week. If the test identifies any technical shortcomings, the authorities will have to determine the corrective measures required before the facility can begin regular operations.The modern slaughterhouse, built at an estimated cost of around Rs 15 crore, was developed to replace unhygienic slaughtering practices and ensure scientific waste management. Its reopening has been delayed by technical and operational issues, with the ETP emerging as the latest major stumbling block.
