08 May,2011 08:26 AM IST | | Harneet Kaur Bhusari
PETA steps in to help PIDA tend to the mistreated animals; PIDA petitions the High Court
After MiD DAY's report on how Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HP) was dragged to court by People in Defence of Animals (PIDA), which discovered that more than 12 bullocks used to carry loads at a construction site in Sewri were being poorly treated ('Petroleum giant sued by animal rights NGO', April 24, 2011), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has approached PIDA to help them to rescue the bullocks.
The bullocks were found bleeding after being made to shoulder heavy kerosene carts, resulting in injuries that required extended hospitalisation. A PETA spokesperson says, "It's a good step taken by PIDA. We want to help them and provide whatever information they need."
On April 28, 2011, PIDA trustee Simarjeet Saini andu00a0 Dr Shivaji Talekar, veterinary surgeon with Bombay Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA) along with seven of his post-graduate students went to the Sewri site where they found the bullocks.
Dr Talekar says, "Around 50 bullocks were treated with various antibiotics, pain killers and have been advised complete rest. Those animals work with heavy iron yokes in the sweltering heat without a shelter. We have requested the cart owners to give them complete rest for some time. The seriously injured ones were taken to BSPCA for surgery."
Saini says, "We have petitioned the High Court and PETA is supporting us. We have filed a case against Indian Oil Petroleum, Bharat Petroleum and HP. This has been happening for long and despite several complaints, nothing has changed."
Karim Khan, President PIDA, says, "This is illegal, according to the Bombay Police Act, 1951. Bullock carts are not allowed to enter the city but 462 bullocks are carrying out such torture in the city. We have requested contractors to use cars for the distribution of kerosene, instead of bullocks carts. If things don't improve, we will approach the SC."
However, M Tiwari, secretary of Mumbai Sahakari Kerosene Vitran Kendra professes helplessness. "We do what we are asked to. Now the petroleum companies are shifting the blame onto us. We need finance to distribute kerosene through motorcars."
A spokesperson for a petroleum company said, on condition of anonymity, "What they do with the animals is upto the contractors. We only assign them work."
