Pork rates revised in Dimapur; price hiked by INR 30 per kg

DIMAPUR — Pork lovers in Dimapur will have to dig deeper into their pockets as the price of dressed pork, including ‘local’ has been hiked by INR 30 per kg. It will now cost INR 350 per kg against the existing rate of INR 320.

Accordingly, the new wholesale rate for a live pig has been increased to INR 255 per kg and INR 300 per kg for pork cuts such as head, hoof and intestine, after a comparative study of the rates in the neighbouring state and the grievances shared by the Pork Butcher Union Dimapur and Pork Wholesalers, Dimapur.

Pork Butcher Union Dimapur (PBUD) president, Shikato T Swu, told this newspaper that prior to the new rate that was decided on February 22, the wholesale rate for live pig was INR 220 per kg and dressed pork INR 320 per kg, while head, hoof and intestine was INR 270 per kg.

The new rates were fixed after a co-ordination meeting between Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) administrator W Manpai Phom and members of the Pork Butcher Union Dimapur and Pork Wholesaler Dimapur at the DMC office on Thursday.

It was informed that matters related to a representation submitted by the pork wholesalers of Dimapur seeking revision of pork rates were discussed at the meeting.

“After having thorough deliberation at length on the matter and having a comparative study of the rate from the neighbouring state, which was submitted by the sub-committee, and also going through the grievances shared by the two unions -- PBUD and Pork Wholesaler Dimapur, the house has decided to re-fix the rate of the pork meat items from the DMC existing rate,” read the minutes of the meeting.

Further, during the coordination meeting, it was decided that the use of digital weighing scales would be made compulsory in every pork butcher shop.

Shops operating without trade licenses were also directed to obtain temporary permits from the concerned authority, without which they will not be allowed to run the business.

The shops were also directed to prominently display the rate chart.  

When queried on the time limit for the butchers to comply with the new directions, Swu said that a deadline has not been decided yet. However, a timeline would be set by next week after another meeting as many shops are running without trade license.