State wants to keep Victorias running, will take plea to HC

MUMBAI: South Mumbai’s Victorias or horse-pulled buggies may keep running, as the state government plans to appeal last year’s Bombay high court decision that made

MUMBAI: South Mumbai’s Victorias or horse-pulled buggies may keep running, as the state government plans to appeal last year’s Bombay high court decision that made them illegal.

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In line with its plan to tap into tourist attractions in the city for revenue, the state said it will seek the court’s permission to keep the Victorias running. Last year, the court deemed them illegal and had asked the state to come up with a rehabilitation plan for owners and horses. Last week, when this plan to rehabilitate the 130 operators came before the state cabinet, nearly all members were opposed to phase out the carriages.

Some cited examples of how horse-drawn carriages still run in tourist hot spots like Kashmir, Vaishnodevi and Matheran in India, and in other cities around the world. The members decided to look into ways to keep the service alive. Officials from the home department said the HC will be informed of the state’s plan.

“It is our cultural heritage. The carriages in south Mumbai are popular among foreign tourists, who help generate revenue. We will bring these facts to the notice of the court and cite examples of other cities,” said an official. The state has also decided to address the objections raised by the HC when it passed its order.

“We found allotting taxi and auto licenses to Victoria operators, as per court directives, was not possible. We now want to chalk out a plan to give the horses better living conditions. On the cards are regular check-ups, medication and accommodation, and we will work with the animal husbandry department of the state,” tourism minister Jaykumar Rawal told HT.

The HC had in June 2015 directed the state to ban the horse-drawn carriage and rehabilitate their operators by December 2015.

The state had mulled to giving them licences of hawkers, but the operators were keen on auto and taxi licenses. The transport and law and judiciary departments said such licenses were not possible out of the turn. When the proposal of the rehabilitation plan was discussed in the cabinet, it decided to instead allow them to operate.

Experts and animal activists, however, are against the move.

“Such a step would be an upsetting shock to the compassionate citizens who want the roads of Mumbai to be cleared of the cruel Victorias. It seems the government is overlooking the illegality and cruelty involved in the trade and the traffic hazard they pose,” said Dr Manilal Valliyate, director of Veterinary Affairs, PETA India.

“We will tap all legal options available to ensure the HC order is implemented. Delhi municipal corporation banned the horse carriages in 2009, besides the ban imposed by Biloxi, Mississippi; Camden, New Jersey; Palm Beach, Pompano Beach, Key West cities at internation level,” Valliyate said.