State mulls cash compensation for Victoria owners

The home department, on Wednesday, filed an affidavit apprising the HC about the plan underway for rehabilitation

After realising that offering hawking and taxi licences to owners and operators of horse-carriages or Victorias is unfeasible, the state is now mulling cash compensation for them.

The state appointed a cabinet sub-committee headed by finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar to look into the rehabilitation of 191 Victoria owners and 30 operators. (Photo for representation)

Acting on the directives issued by the Bombay high court (HC), the state appointed a cabinet sub-committee headed by finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar to look into the rehabilitation of 191 Victoria owners and 30 operators. After three meetings with the stake holders, including carriage operators and NGOs, the committee is expected to take a final decision next week.

“We were considering giving taxi or hawking licences to operators and owners, but the departments concerned have said it may not be possible. We may now finalise the option of cash compensation between Rs1 lakh and Rs3 lakh to the operators and owners. The stakeholders are positive about the new formula,” said an official from the animal husbandry department.

The home department, on Wednesday, filed an affidavit apprising the HC about the plan underway for rehabilitation.

“We will be happy if carriage operators and owners are rehabilitated by the government. The Delhi municipal corporation has effectively implemented the rehabilitation plan by phasing out the carriages. We can help the owners in rehabilitating the horses if they do not want to keep them,” said Ambika Nijjar, legal advisor, People for Animals, one of the petitioners.

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