In view of rising temperatures, the Gwalior district administration has banned all types of animal-powered transportation during the day till 15 July.
Gwalior collector Rahul Jain has taken the initiative to ban the movement of bullock-carts, horse-driven carts, camel carts, donkey carts, mulecarts, buffalo carts and pony carts in the district under the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act, 1960, and Cruelty to Drought and Pack Animals Rules (PCDPA) 1965 under Section 6.
The ban will also apply to animals carry goods and people on their backs. The order stated that the ban will be in effect from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. daily from 1 May to 15 July.
“The temperatures touch above 40 degrees Celsius in the peak hours of the day. In this situation animals carrying goods and passengers may die. The order under the PCA and PCDPA can give them some relief from the scorching heat, ” said Rahul Jain. Animal-powered carts and pack animals are being used to carry building materials, people and other commodities in the district.
Traditional rally cars (tanga), bullock-carts, buffalo-carts, horse-carts and use of donkeys mules, ponies and horses to carry goods on their backs are still continuing in the district. Animal welfare organisations have not taken the initiative to stop it.
“The step taken by the district administration will pave a new path for freedom of animals. The government should come forward to make a new Act to prevent completely the use of animals in carrying goods in this machine age,” said Shobhana Sharma, an animal lover of Gwalior.