Govt to ban bullock carts from city roads ……Vijay Singh
Mumbai: The cruel and outdated practice of using bullocks to transport heavy loads in the city will soon be history;for the state government has decided to issue a complete ban on bullock carts in Mumbai.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA India) has welcomed the move and said that it will give much-needed relief to the exploited animals.
We recently attended the meeting called by the state ministry of food and civil supplies at Mantralaya where it was decided to phase out the use of bullocks for transporting oil and kerosene, said Dr Manilal Valliyate,director of veterinary affairs of PETA India.
At the meeting,PETA India had pointed that there was actually an earlier notification by the state governor banning the use of bullocks in the city with effect from July 2006.But,it was not implemented then.
During the meeting,joint secretary Uma Kant Dangat said the state can financially help replace the old-fashioned bullock carts with diesel-run three-wheelers to pull the load;and that all the concerned labour leaders will be notified about it.
Nearly 200 bullock carts used to carry kerosene and oil in Sewree and Wadala regions, said Dr Manilal.
Mumbai-based animal activist Hoshang Billimoria,who has been fighting for the cause of bullocks for years,said,I have seen bullocks collapse in pain on the road due to their heavy load.
* A DAY IN A BULLS LIFE: Overworked bullocks will soon get some respite