India’s only motor vehicle free hill station under threat: Why the NGT says horses are now Matheran’s biggest polluter

Equine activity in Matheran poses the highest environmental and public health risk during the rainy season, said the NGT. (Image enhanced using AI)

Air Quality

• PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅ concentrations consistently breached Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) standards during the monitoring period.
• PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅ levels breached the CPCB’s standards, the root cause being equine dung emissions and dust from unpaved roads.
• At the same time, SO₂ and NO₂ levels were found to be within permissible limits.
• Matheran’s pollution burden is not industrial in nature, but rather stems from a distinctive, location-specific problem arising from a horse-dependent, vehicle-free ecosystem.

Water Quality

• Samples collected from five sites, including lakes, streams and storage tanks showed E coli counts ranging from 5 to 100 CFU per 100 ml.
• Escherichia coli (E.coli) Colony Forming Units (CFU) quantify viable, multiplying bacteria, often measured in CFU/mL (liquid) or CFU/g (solid) to assess contamination.
• These counts violate drinking water norms, as both Bureau of Indian Standards and World Health organisation (WHO) mandate zero E coli in 100 ml.
• The presence of E coli confirms faecal contamination, certainly from horse dung.
• In addition to microbial contamination, the report also confirmed the presence of heavy metals in all five water samples, raising concerns about cumulative ecological damage and potential public health risks if the situation remains unaddressed.

Soil contamination

• The NGT placed particular emphasis on the phase-II (monsoon) soil quality assessment, which revealed widespread contamination.
• Faecal indicator bacteria and Salmonella were detected across multiple soil samples.
• Equine activity in Matheran poses the highest environmental and public health risk during the rainy season.
• The NGT noted that monsoon runoff significantly amplifies contamination by facilitating the movement of dung and pathogens into soil layers and nearby water bodies.

Expert conclusion

• Equine activity in its present scale is environmentally unsustainable in the Matheran eco-sensitive zone.
• Downstream cleaning or short-term remedial measures would be ineffective, and safeguarding air quality, drinking water sources, and soil health requires long-term, source-level regulatory intervention.
• Strict regulation and phased reduction of horse populations.
• Relocation of stables outside ESZ limits.
• Zoning of equine routes and protection of water catchment areas.
• Continuous environmental monitoring over a 3–5 year period to validate outcomes.
• Effective implementation could allow Matheran to emerge as a national model for scientifically managed, pedestrian-only eco-tourism, aligned with the precautionary principle and carrying capacity doctrine.

Background

• The applicants before the NGT contended that unregulated tourism-linked activities, particularly horse-based transport, were undermining air quality, contaminating water sources and degrading soil health.
• Pursuant to earlier directions of the NGT, a joint committee led by the MPCB carried out multi-seasonal environmental monitoring across pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon phases.
• The study involved on-site sampling, laboratory analysis and comparison with statutory standards prescribed under environmental and public health regulations.
• The findings were placed before the NGT and attribute the environmental stress primarily to equine activity, dung emissions and dust from unpaved routes, while clearly ruling out any industrial source of pollution.
• Advocate Tushar Kumar represented the applicants, while the state of Maharashtra, the union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEF&CC), local bodies and equine associations were arrayed as respondents.

Procedural directions, next hearing

• On the procedural side, the NGT granted two weeks to equine associations to file objections after their counsel submitted that the joint committee report had been served only a day prior to the hearing.
• The NGT also expressed concern over the absence of representation from the Matheran Hill Station Municipal Council, describing it as a necessary party.
• It directed the registrar to ensure its presence on the next date, warning that personal appearance of the concerned officer could be ordered in case of non-compliance.
• The matter has been listed for further consideration on March 24, 2026, when the tribunal will examine the joint committee report along with objections and submissions from all parties.