Yelahanka meat ban unscientific: Hoteliers

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: As the Aero India 2025 airshow in Yelahanka is set to begin from February 10, hoteliers in and around the area have expressed disappointment over the ban of sale of meat imposed by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Monday, calling it “unscientific.” The biennial event is set to happen from February 10 to February 14 at the IAF Airbase in Yelahanka. The Joint Commissioner of the Yelahanka zone on Saturday had imposed a ban on the sale of meat and closure of butcher shops from Thursday, January 23 till February 17.

This routine practice is done as a safety and hygienic measure, supposedly to avoid scavengers flying around while premium fighter jets flying around. The Bangalore Hotels Association in its letter to the Chief Commissioner addressed the impact of the ban. “Around 5000 businesses including star hotels, restaurants, pubs and bars serving non-vegetarian food will be impacted. Shutting down of Biriyani houses serving the general public and middle class living in the area may hurt them adversely,” the letter stated. The Hoteliers also contested that the garbage being produced is disposed of the next day to the garbage collection vehicle, and does not leave out any piles of food for birds to feed on.

“Apart from this, food items are also being supplied to the guests inside the air base. This will impact the weddings, business meets and similar conclaves in the area which were planned earlier,” the letter stated. The hotel association suggested closure of butchers a week prior to the airshow. The letter is also addressed to the Special Commissioner (Health), BBMP.