In the bustling city of Nagpur, a seemingly ordinary cluster of roadside meat sellers has erupted into a major political controversy just ahead of the crucial Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections. The Khamla Mutton Market, a modest strip of vendors, has transformed a narrow street into a battleground where votes, livelihoods, and public safety are fiercely contested.
From Civic Nuisance to Aviation Safety Threat
For years, residents in the South-West Nagpur area have voiced strong complaints about the open-air meat market. Locals report that the practice of selling and cutting meat directly on the roadside attracts aggressive packs of stray dogs and large flocks of birds, including kites and falcons. This creates a persistent nuisance for pedestrians and motorists navigating the area.
However, the concern extends far beyond daily inconvenience. The market is situated barely two kilometres from the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, a zone already highly sensitive to bird activity. There have been past reports of bird hits causing flight disruptions, leading residents and authorities to flag the market not merely as a civic issue but as a potential risk to aviation safety.
Political Parties Take Opposing Stands
As election campaigning intensifies, the issue has inevitably been drawn into the political arena, with rival parties adopting sharply different positions.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has framed the removal of the roadside vendors as a critical matter of public safety, urban order, and adherence to civic norms. Party leaders argue that permitting open slaughter and meat sales on a busy road so close to a major airport is unacceptable and demands immediate corrective action.
In contrast, the Indian National Congress has rallied in support of the butchers, warning against any rash action that could destroy their livelihoods. Congress leaders acknowledge the civic and safety concerns but insist that the solution must not involve pushing small traders out of business without providing them with viable alternatives.
A Search for a Balanced Solution
The situation is further complicated by the market's location under the jurisdiction of both Ward 36 and Ward 37, pulling multiple candidates and constituencies into the debate.
A BJP candidate from Ward 36, who spoke on condition of anonymity, indicated that a balanced approach is needed. "Ideally, there has to be a solution that keeps both sides satisfied. If we come to power, we can definitely work on it," the candidate said, hinting at the possibility of a regulated relocation plan.
Congress candidate from Ward 36, Vinod Patil, adopted a conciliatory tone. "If we come to power, we will provide a separate space for the market. They are operating on the road today; we will give them proper facilities," he stated, emphasizing that the core issue is one of inadequate infrastructure rather than requiring eviction.
Echoing this sentiment, Congress candidate Prashant Kapse from Ward 37 asserted that the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) should have addressed the matter long ago. "It was the NMC's responsibility to regularise the market. Yes, it is close to the airport, and the stray dog issue is real, but removing the market outright would mean taking away people's livelihoods," Kapse said. He proposed that the ideal solution would be to first identify and develop an alternative market space, preferably located farther from the airport, and then relocate the butchers there in a phased manner.
What began as a local grievance has now assumed significant political weight in South-West Nagpur. The resolution of the Khamla Mutton Market issue will not only impact the daily lives of residents and vendors but also serve as a test of the competing governance models presented by the political parties vying for power in the upcoming civic polls.
