Mumbai: The State government told the Bombay High Court on Thursday that it has firmed up its policy for the rehabilitation of owners and drivers of the iconic horse-drawn Victoria carriages.
In June 2015, the HC had asked the BMC to ban the carriage rides as they were “illegal and violative of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act”. It had also directed the State government to frame a comprehensive policy to rehabilitate carriage owners and drivers who would be affected by the ban, and one for their horses.
The government said a government resolution on this was issued on June 16 in the affidavit submitted to a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice N.M. Jamdar. “As per the approved policy, the Victoria horse carriage owner and driver shall be eligible for a vendor license under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending Maharashtra Scheme),” the affidavit said.
It added that by way of financial aid, a sum of up to ₹3 lakh would be given to drivers and owners. “With regard to the rehabilitation of horses, the owners may either sell their horses or give the horses to NGOs who would care for them. The State Cabinet has instructed the Animal Husbandry department to frame a comprehensive policy for the safety and health of the horses in this process,” the affidavit said.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by city-based NGO Animals and Birds Charitable Trust, that said using horses for joyrides amounted to cruelty.
