Haridwar Ardh Kumbh 2027 : Municipal Corporation Proposes Relocating Meat Shops to City Outskirts

In a significant move ahead of the Ardh Kumbh 2027, the Haridwar Municipal Corporation has drafted a proposal to relocate all raw meat shops from the city's urban limits to Sarai village on the outskirts. The initiative, led by Mayor Kiran Jaiswal, aims to maintain the spiritual sanctity of the holy city and improve overall sanitation before millions of devotees arrive for the mega religious gathering.The Relocation Blueprint: Shifting to Sarai VillageThe proposal, set to be presented at the Municipal Corporation Board meeting on April 6, 2026, suggests a total ban on the sale of raw meat within the current municipal boundaries.Target Area: Shops currently operating in mixed-population areas like Jawalapur and Jagjeetpur.New Hub: A dedicated zone in Sarai village will be developed to house these businesses, moving them away from the main city and religious sites.Sanitation and Stray Dog ConcernsBeyond religious sentiments, civic authorities have cited practical urban challenges as a reason for the shift. Mayor Jaiswal noted that open-air meat shops often lead to unhygienic conditions and contribute significantly to the stray dog menace in the city. By centralizing these shops in a controlled environment outside the city, the administration hopes to streamline waste management and enhance Haridwar's "Swachhata" (cleanliness) rankings.Expansion of Existing ProhibitionsCurrently, Haridwar already enforces a strict ban on meat, liquor, and eggs within a 5-km radius of Har Ki Pauri. This new proposal seeks to extend this "meat-free" status to the entire municipal area. The board will also deliberate on whether hotels and roadside eateries should be allowed to serve cooked meat or if those establishments should also be restricted to the city's periphery.Support from Seers and Religious BodiesThe move has received strong backing from prominent religious leaders. Mahant Ravindra Puri, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad, welcomed the plan, stating that the presence of meat shops hurts the religious sentiments of pilgrims. State Chief Secretary Anand Vardhan has also assured that all necessary steps will be taken to ensure the Kumbh Mela remains a spiritually pure event.