Lucknow, March 29— The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered the immediate closure of illegal slaughterhouses and banned meat sales within 500 metres of religious sites ahead of the nine-day Chaitra Navratri festival.
On April 6, during Ram Navami, stricter restrictions will be enforced, with a complete ban on animal slaughter and meat sales, according to a government statement on Saturday.
Amrit Abhijat, principal secretary of the Urban Development Department, directed all district magistrates, police commissioners, and municipal commissioners to implement the closure and enforce the ban.
“Illegal animal slaughter and sale of meat near religious places will be completely prohibited,” the statement read, citing government orders issued in 2014 and 2017.
To oversee enforcement, district-level committees have been formed under the chairmanship of district magistrates.
These committees include officials from the police, Pollution Control Board, Animal Husbandry Department, Transport Department, Labour Department, Health Department, and Food Safety Administration.
