By Sidi Mohamed
DOHA: Several citizens and residents have criticised the lack of adequate facilities and services at the two abattoirs in Al Rayyan Municipality and have asked concerned authorities to take action.
Al Rayyan Municipality is the second largest in terms of population after the Doha Municipality but there are only two abattoirs in the municipality. Residents say that they are unable to the meet the requirements, especially on occasions like Ramadan and Eid.
According to municipality inspectors, all abattoirs need to meet health standards as well as the technical standards and requirements.
Both abattoirs are located in residential area, and the space is very small compared to the number of animals being slaughtered daily. This means the customers have to wait for long to get their work done.
According to a source at Al Rayan Municipality, every abattoir receives daily about 80 to 100 animals for slaughter, and sometimes more especially on Thursdays and Fridays. In the Al Rayyan abattoir, located behind Al Maadeed market, the slaughter area is about 42 metres square, while the other one in Muaither area has a slightly bigger space. According to the source, in the beginning of Ramadan, the customers had to wait for five to six hours, and currently they have to wait about one hour for the slaughtered animal to be ready.
A visit to the Al Rayyan abattoir showed that it lacks basic facilities. The facility functions in a portacabin and there is no waiting area for visitors. Customers have to wait in the same room where the animals are slaughtered and they have to queue up in open area to pay the charges.
There are three veterinarians at Al Rayyan abattoir but the number of workers are only four, it is learned.
The abattoirs are very old and do not meet people’s needs. They are not equipped with new cutting machines and the air conditioners are not properly maintained, said the source. The facility also lacks enough ventilation, despite meet the large number of slaughters every day.
Many customers The Peninsula met at Al Rayyan Abattoir expressed their disappointment over the situation there and urged Widam company, which is responsible for the abattoirs, to improve their condition.
Mubarak, a customer, said: “How many years will we wait for Widam to change the situation at these abattoirs? There is no waiting area for people to wait, how can people wait inside slaughters room.”
Mohamed, another customer, said that “these are not abattoirs they are like old houses, sometimes I have to wait many hours, especially on Friday. I end up waiting inside my car as there are no waiting area for visitors.”
Widam, this year, has introduced new health standards at the Doha abattoirs and the walls have been covered with ceramic tiles.
The abattoirs are also equipped with new cutting machines and hangers.
The Peninsula
