Mumbai, Sep 21 () The

(

) has decided to invest Rs 1,066 crore for the makeover of Deonar abattoir, the city's only slaughter house.

Built in 1968, the Deonar abattoir, one of the biggest in the country, is facing issues of sinking land level, poor meat chilling facility and unscientific disposal of animal waste, attracting the fury of environmentalists and

.

"With the follow up by leaders in the civic body, the Deonar abattoir will be modernised to international standards," a BMC official said today.

The civic administration yesterday gave the nod to spend Rs 1,066 crore for the abattoir's facelift, he said.

The state-of-the-art technology of meat processing and affluent treatment plant will be readied by the BMC.

The abattoir was started in 1971 and currently supplies half of the city's meat requirement.

According to a statement issued by the BMC, the abattoir would be equipped with solar energy utilisation, rainwater harvesting facilities, high-end machinery for loading and unloading of ramps for all types of animals as well as dispensary for municipal employees and buildings to accommodate officers.

It will also have additional features such as special Bakrid sheds, spacious market sheds, offices and restrooms for all, rendering plant to dispose the waste, treatment plant to meet effluent disposal, fresh water pumping station and a slaughtering unit capable of handling 6,000 animals per shift.

"We will carry out the facelift project in a phased manner so that the supply chain of meat to the residents of the city is not affected," the official said, adding tenders for the first phase of makeover would be issued in the first half of next month. APM GK DV