MCD forced to scrap proposal to allow horse carriages after protests from animal lovers Animal lovers have forced the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to give up its plans to allow horse buggies at tourist places for visitors,on the lines of the Victoria Memorial. In January,the civic body tried to amend its policy for granting licences to horse buggies. The policy,with amendments,was approved by the Standing Committee. A fortnight later,however,the MCD had to defer the proposal at the behest of NGOs fighting against cruelty to animals. There were several complaints,so the matter was referred back. If the proposal was implemented,horse-drawn carriages would have plied at Red Fort,Jama Masjid,Old Fort,Humayuns Tomb,Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah,Safdarjung Tomb,Lodhi Garden,India Gate,Qutab Minar,Mehrauli Dargah and Tughlakabad Fort, said an MCD official. The MCD was to finalise the modalities of routes,fare structure and passenger limit in consultation with the Delhi government. A horse buggy is different from a tonga as it has four or more wheels and is pulled by two or more horses or mares. A tonga has only two wheels and pulled by a single horse. Last year,the MCD had discontinued grant of licence to tonga owners by stating they cluttered the roads,were an obsolete means of transport and it was cruel to make animals pull heavy loads. Earlier,the Public Grievance Commission had also asked the MCD to consider relocation of the horse buggies (horse-drawn carriages) away from congested residential areas. The agency has refused the move saying that for rehabilitation,land will have to be acquired on the outskirts of the city,which will take long time. For now horse carriages will only be used in weddings and religious functions. According to MCD records,there are about 138 licensed horse buggies in Delhi the unofficial number,however,is much higher. The policy was drawn up to regulate the unauthorised use of buggies.
