Hoteliers association opposes BBMP’s meat sale ban in 13-km radius of Aero India venue

BENGALURU: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has ordered a ban on the sale of meat in a 13-km radius of the Yelahanka Air Force Station, ahead of the Aero India Show, scheduled to take place from February 10-14.

The ban will be in effect from January 26 to February 17. However, the Bangalore Hoteliers Association has strongly condemned the decision.

The association has termed the 22-day ban on meat sale as ‘unscientific’ and claimed that it will cause inconvenience to around 5,000 hotels, pubs, bars and restaurants in the area. Weddings, meetings and ceremonies are already taking place in these hotels, the association noted.

In addition, hundreds of rooms have been booked, and crores of rupees will be lost due to the meat ban order. Birds are not feeding on hotels waste as it is being disposed of daily through garbage collection vehicles, the association noted.

The association’s secretary, Veerendra Kamath, has requested the BBMP commissioner to reconsider the order, suggesting that only meat shops be closed for a week instead.

The Aero India Show, held at the Yelahanka Air Force Station, is an international event that showcases India’s military strength. The BBMP’s order aims to prevent bird strikes during the event. However, hotel owners argue that the ban will result in losses of crores of rupees, as many hotels have already been booked for events and weddings.