Poultry traders protest against fee for waste clearanace

Bengaluru

The Karnataka Poultry Traders Association (KPTA) protested the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management’s (BSWML) proposed policy of charging Rs. 5 per kg of waste cleared. Members of the KPTA stated that the proposed system will only harm the traders economically and drive up prices of chicken. “We get 30% waste, and that 30% waste is actually raw material. Now the government is charging five rupees for that raw material. And why I say raw material is because they don't take this to the rendering plants, they make food for pets, cattle food, and then they again take this and feed to the chicken.

40% output we get, and they sell it around 60 rupees per kilo,” said KPTA Secretary Abdul Hafeez. Traders rejected the proposed system outright, stating that everything was fine in the current system, they sold the animal waste and could make some money. However, going for ward, they would have to pay to get rid of the waste from which they were earning. In turn, they would have to increase prices of chicken and push the cost of the waste management system to the customers. The KPTA also stated that if the proposal is not with drawn, they will be taking up a larger demonstration and continue the strike, which currently is set to continue until Friday.