Beef has become increasingly scarce in markets across West Bengal amid tighter enforcement of cattle slaughter regulations and a growing supply shortage following the BJP’s return to power in the state, according to an Al Jazeera report published Tuesday (September 15).The impact began to emerge after the BJP formed the state government, ending the 15-year rule of the Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee, the report said.On May 13, the West Bengal government ordered stricter enforcement of the 1950 animal slaughter control law. Under the rules, fitness certificates cannot be issued for the slaughter of cattle or buffaloes unless they are over 14 years old, no longer fit for breeding or work, or severely disabled. Slaughter is also permitted only at designated slaughterhouses.The crisis has worsened in Kolkata after the closure of the city's only municipal slaughterhouse in Tangra and the suspension of licence renewals for butchers. The licence renewal process has reportedly come to a standstill following the dissolution of the municipal corporation after the resignation of Mayor Firhad Hakim, with elections scheduled for December.With supply falling short of demand, beef prices in Kolkata have risen from Rs 200–250 per kilogramme to Rs 350–500. The price of a plate of beef bhuna has also increased from Rs 100 to Rs 120. Despite the higher prices, however, business has reportedly declined by more than 50 percent as many consumers have reduced eating beef in public amid security concerns.Several traditional restaurants, including Ali Pub and Zam Zam in Kolkata, have reportedly been forced to remove beef dishes from their menus because of the stricter enforcement of the law. Many meat traders and livestock farmers are also selling cattle at lower prices to limit losses and shifting to the goat business.In areas such as Baruipur in South 24 Parganas and Muslim-majority Malda, tighter restrictions have reportedly pushed some suppliers to distribute beef discreetly at night through informal networks.Government statistics show that 10.4 percent of rural households and 7.9 percent of urban households in the state consumed beef. The consumers included around two-thirds of Muslims, as well as members of Christian, Dalit and indigenous communities.Regarding the Tangra slaughterhouse and licence renewals, Kolkata Municipal Corporation Commissioner Smita Pandey said the matter falls under the Animal Resources Development Department. However, Animal Resources Development Director Nikhil Kumar Seth said the responsibility for operating slaughterhouses and issuing fitness certificates rests with the municipal corporation. Source: Al Jazeera