28 July,2009 09:43 AM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
City cops ban horses, elephants, camels on city roads to curb traffic obstructions, but the move will affect the livelihood of 400 tonga and buggy owners
Always dreamt that your man will ride a white horse at the wedding and sweep you off your feet? In reality, he may end up in the lock up, as city cops have banned horses, elephants and camels on city roads to curb traffic obstructions.
This ban questions the livelihood of the city's 400 tonga and buggie owners (see box) who will take a morcha to the offices of the police commissioner and district collector on August 3.
President of Horse and Buggy Owners Association Nana Kshirsagar said, "Now, people cannot hire horses for wedding baraats, which is a traditional custom."
In the 1960s, Pune was well known for its horse-driven taxis and many horse owners have inherited this livelihood from their forefathers. "The order will wipe out the Victoria buggies from Pune," added Kshirsagar.u00a0
Support
Traders who supply horses to the National Defense Academy and the racecourse have also come forward to support the morcha.
Prakash Satav, an international Polo player and runs a horse-riding school, felt the ban will affect all horse-related businesses. "If the use of horses is allowed in sports, then why a ban on public use?" added Satav.
The ban means a shut shop for traders who rent out horses and buggies at weddings. Sanket Pardeshi, owner of Ashwaraj Musical Band, who rents out buggies since the last five decades, said "I decided to sell all my 15 horses after the ban, but there are no buyers." Another buggy owner Sharif Ibrahim Khan from Ghorpadigaon feared that the ban would leave them unemployed.u00a0
Ravindra Sengaonkar, DCP, Special branch, said, "The order has been issued under the Bombay Province Municipal Corporation Act and Bombay Police Act of 1951."
