Minister directs action to ensure mules on Kedarnath route are treated well
Monday, 30 May 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
Following the deaths of scores of mules on the route to Kedarnath, the State’s Animal Husbandry minister Saurabh Bahuguna has issued instructions to officials for ensuring that mules used to carry pilgrims on the Kedarnath route are not ill-treated. Inspecting the bridle path to Kedarnath from Sonprayag to Gaurikund, the minister instructed the officials and the mule operators to ensure that the animals have adequate water, rest and are fit to work while adding that they should not be subjected to cruelty. He directed that 50 per cent of the total horses and mules should be used per day so that they have adequate rest for a day after working. The minister directed the police to initiate action against any person found making the mules undergo two rounds to Kedarnath and back on the same day. He also directed the Ukhimath sub divisional magistrate to prepare a proposal for construction of sheds for the horses and mules. Accommodation should also be arranged for veterinarians at Sonprayag and Gaurikund, he said. Talking to the horse-mule union head, Bahuguna also asked him to ensure that the animals are well taken care of. The district administration should be informed if any owner or hawker is not taking proper care of his animal, he added. Talking to media persons later, the minister said that his inspection had revealed some shortcomings on the part of the mule operators and some on the part of the administration. He said that information had been received about nearly 65 mules dying on the Kedarnath route so far. Most of these animals had died due to colic as they were being overworked and being fed dry hay at night. The minister also discussed the situation with the district Panchayat officials. District Panchayat chairperson Amardei Shah, Animal Husbandry secretary BVRC Purushottam, ASP Swapna Kishor Singh, CVO Dr Ashish Rawat and SDM Jitendra Verma were also present on the occasion.
It will be recalled that recently, the People For Animals (PFA) Uttarakhand had issued a contempt notice to the Uttarakhand chief secretary, additional chief secretary-Urban Development, Animal Husbandry secretary and the director general of police stating that the 2018 directions of the Uttarakhand High Court had not been complied with by the State government. The organisation had stated that the use of animals on the tracks of the Char Dham Yatra must be stopped forthwith in the absence of requisite infrastructure especially because the State government has failed to formulate a policy for management and regulation of equine movement and use in Uttarakhand despite suffering the major tragedies of 2009 and 2013.
