On the occasion of Krishna Pushkaram, starting from August 9 to August 25, there will be no meat sale in Vijayawada. The decision of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) to ban slaughtering of cattle and sale of meat, including seafood, in the city for 16 days on the occasion of Krishna Pushkaralu, has drawn flak from not only traders and hoteliers but also the common public. Authorities stated that in the interest of public health of crores of people visiting the city, the ban has been imposed. No meat shops should be opened during the said period and also slaughtering of animals must be strictly avoided, officials said. Also, the Municipal Corporation’s slaughter house which certifies meat will also be closed down. "There are people from various religions living here and the government must not tell us what to eat," a resident said.

“Banning meat will be a strong step. Consumption of non-vegetarian food is one’s personal choice. Ban for such long period would also impact the lives of people dependant on the poultry and seafood industry. However, officials can make an appeal to the public to avoid sale or consumption of a particular product in the larger interest of people”, said an activist. "There was no ban on the meat during the 1992 and 2004 Krishna Pushkarams. When the government says that it wants to ban mean to maintain piousness, does it mean those who consume it are not pious? What sort of message is it trying to send to the public?" said another resident.  Meanwhile, liquor will be available all over the city except in the shops that are located within 500 metres radius to ghats and Pushkar Nagars.