Itanagar, May 28: In a dual move to regulate trade and ease capital traffic, the Itanagar Capital Region administration on Wednesday, May 27, prohibited the commercial slaughter of Mithuns and the Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) ordered the removal of roadside stalls along NH-415.

Deputy Commissioner Toko Babu, who also heads the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), issued the Mithun slaughter ban under the Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1989, and the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

“Any person found engaged in illegal slaughter of Mithuns will be liable to a penalty of Rs 20,000,” Babu stated in the order.

To implement the ban, the APMC vice-chairperson will lead a dedicated monitoring team to identify and act against illegal slaughter across the capital region. The DC has further directed the Superintendents of Police of Itanagar and Naharlagun to deploy personnel to assist APMC teams during enforcement operations whenever required.

Mithun, Arunachal Pradesh’s state animal, is culturally significant for indigenous communities and is often linked to ritual practices. The order targets unregulated commercial trade while not interfering with traditional customs carried out under existing norms.

Separately, the IMC directed the immediate clearing of meat, fruit, and vegetable stalls encroaching on the NH-415 stretch within city limits.

According to the civic body, these roadside stalls have been contributing to traffic bottlenecks and raising public health risks due to poor hygiene and waste accumulation.

Vendors and shopkeepers have been given a 10 day deadline to remove temporary structures. The IMC warned that failure to comply will lead to confiscation of goods and further action under municipal bylaws.

The administration stated, both orders aim to streamline agricultural produce marketing, protect cultural and economic assets like the Mithun, ensure smoother traffic flow, and safeguard public health in the capital region.