MARGAO
The United Goans Foundation has petitioned the Chairman of the Public Undertaking Committee (PUC), Yuri Alemao, to take up the issue of beef exports and the availability of beef for consumption in the State.
The NGO has urged Yuri to initiate a formal inquiry through the Public Undertaking Committee to examine whether the Goa Meat Complex is being misused for international trade at the expense of Goan consumers.
In a petition submitted by UGF Executive Committee member Dominic Norohna, the NGO expressed deep concern regarding recent reports that the Goa Meat Complex, which was originally established to ensure a stable supply of quality meat for Goans, is now being utilised for beef exports, potentially at the cost of local availability. “The recent media reports indicate that 28.5 tonnes of frozen beef were exported to Iraq through a partnership between the government-run Goa Meat Complex and Karnataka-based Sunface Agrofoods Pvt. Ltd. This raises serious questions about whether the facility is fulfilling its primary objective of catering to the local population or if it has been repurposed to serve private export interests,” he said.
Norohna said there are multiple concerns that need to be investigated, including the impact on the local availability of beef, with many consumers and traders reporting significant shortages of meat, particularly during the festive season. “If the state’s only authorised meat-processing facility is prioritising exports, it is crucial to assess whether this is causing artificial scarcity in Goa,” he said.
Demanding transparency in operations, he said the credibility of Sunface Agrofoods Pvt. Ltd. has been questioned, with reports suggesting that the company may not be operational or may be serving as a front for undisclosed entities. “This raises doubts about the legitimacy of the government’s partnership with the company,” he said.
On financial interests and revenue allocation, Norohna said the claim that the Goa Meat Complex earns only ₹500 per animal slaughtered seems improbable, given the scale of operations and export revenues. “An audit of financial transactions related to these exports is necessary to determine if public resources are being misused for private gain,” he said, adding that if the government has facilitated this export initiative without ensuring the needs of the local population are met, it may constitute a violation of the original mandate of the Goa Meat Complex. An assessment of whether due process was followed in approving these exports is essential, he demanded.
On the encouragement of illegal vigilantism, he said reports indicate that certain groups are stopping vehicles and determining the nature of meat being transported without legal authority. “If the government itself is involved in beef exports, then it must clarify its stance and take strict action against such unlawful activities,” he said.
