Solution needed to end ponies’ misery, say activists

Almost a week after Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda rushed to the rescue of ponies suffering from grave injuries due to load bearing in Matheran, animal rights activists are now demanding a permanent solution to the age-old practice of the hill station. As the e-rickshaw proposal for the Eco-Sensitive Zone is yet to be materialised, around 70-80 ponies, used for carrying goods and other load have been sustaining grave injuries due to carrying the massive load on their back with no proper medical assistance in sight.

Animal activists from the hill station said that while the e-rickshaws and CNG rickshaws were to soon offer a transportation facility, deputy commissioner (revenue) Konkan region, Bhausaheb Dhandge’s proposal for the same has been pending at the principal secretary’s (revenue and forest department) office. Mr Dhandge has requested the principal secretary for an amendment in Section 43 of the Matheran Act. The Act restricts any vehicle, including motorcycles, cycles, three and four- wheelers to ply in the hill station in order to prevent environmental degradation due to pollution possibilities.

After the recent incident came to light, Sunil Shinde, an environmentalist from Matheran, said officials should find a permanent solution to the problem as ponies are being hurt repeatedly. “Around 70-80 ponies are being hurt while carrying construction material, cooking cylinders and other goods being transported within the periphery of Matheran since there is no alternative transportation arrangement. We also have the inhuman practice of human carts still going on, which was banned by the Kolkata high court a long time ago. At the same time, even the Bombay high court banned the Victorias in Mumbai, citing the pain it inflicted on animals. But animal abuse in Matheran continues,” said Mr Shinde.

Mr Shinde and other activists are requesting to abolish the practice of using handcarts and give them licenses for e-rickshaws that could be used to carry goods across the hill station. “The licences can be given to either pony operators or the handcart operators as both of them are under stress for the kind of services they are providing,” said another Matheran activist.