The journalistic investigation previously held by PolitKlinika and CABAR.asia had found blatant violation of health standards in the territory of Zhantai cattle market and slaughterhouse on the outskirts of Bishkek.
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Previously, we had held our journalistic investigation “Blood Water or Zhantai Cattle Market Does not Comply with Health Standards”. In this investigation, our journalists witnessed that wastewater draining off Zhantai slaughterhouse together with animal blood flew into river Ala Archa and made records of this fact both as photos and videos.
The authorised agencies acknowledged that Zhantai market didn’t comply with some clauses of the governmental order dated June 18, 2015 No. 377 “On approval of primary veterinary and health requirements to prevent animal diseases” and claimed they would take all necessary measures if wastewater mixed with animal blood was really flowing into river Ala Archa.
The head of Alamedin district office of State Inspectorate for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Safety, Chyngyz Sheishenbaev, said he was aware of the problem with Zhantai market and added that after the publication the second septic tank was installed in the slaughterhouse.
Previously, the head of the market, Zhantai Isabek uulu, claimed no wastewater from the slaughterhouse was flowing into the river. When we showed him our video, he said, “This cannot be true. Let’s watch our video. If it is really so, we’ll talk with the slaughterhouse holder. He’ll arrange everything. If he doesn’t, we’ll find another holder. I don’t want people to complain about this slaughterhouse.”
After our investigation, the head of the market told us he would completely destroy the previous slaughterhouse and adjacent barns and would construct a modern slaughterhouse away from the river. “This slaughterhouse will be liquidated together with adjacent areas. After the snow and ice melt down, we’ll begin construction of a modern slaughterhouse that meets EAEU standards,” Zhantai Isabek uulu added.
The head of Alamedin district office of State Inspectorate for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Safety, Chyngyz Sheishenbaev, said they checked the cattle market after the investigation and found that blood water flew into river Ala Archa.
“After we had a talk with you, we again checked the market. We forced the market administration to sign an agreement for the clean-up of septic tanks once a week by special cleaners. Septic tanks were overfilled with animal waste, which overflew,” Chyngyz Sheishenbaev said.
According to him, the market administration asked him if they could build a modern slaughterhouse; the office said that it permitted such construction, according to the governmental decree of 2015, if there was a land plot in the suburbs of the city that qualified for such purposes.
“Currently, we are having talks about the construction of the new market. However, we have not issued any documents,” the head of Alamedin district office of State Inspectorate for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Safety said. “We explain the rules of construction of a modern slaughterhouse according to the decree. Now they look for an appropriate land plot. If they build this modern slaughterhouse, they can operate not only within Kyrgyzstan, but they can also enter the markets of China, UAE and other countries on the basis of our agreement.”
“In other words, these people want to build a slaughterhouse that meets technical standards of EAEU. It would be great. The better the slaughterhouse, the more opportunities its owners will have in the future,” he said.
The authors of the investigation will follow this issue up.
The journalistic investigation was published on November 29, 2019. You can read it here
This article was prepared as part of the Giving Voice, Driving Change – from the Borderland to the Steppes Project. The opinions expressed in the article do not reflect the position of the editorial or donor.