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No Oil Quota for Bullock Carts from This Month

  • Mumbai Finally relieving bullocks from their misery, the state Ministry of Food and Civic Supplies has — in its February instructions to rations shops and oil companies — ensured that bullock carts are not used for transportation of kerosene in the city.In a letter to oil companies and ration shops, the Controller of Rationing has not allocated any quota of oil to be transported by bullock carts in February 2012. Earlier, the instructions included a quota for both bullock carts and tankers.In fact, as recently as January, the ministry had allocated oil for transportation in 888 bullock carts in the month to one of the oil companies.
  • Officials of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) confirmed that no bullock carts have been used for transportation since February 1, as per the instruction.Sources said Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) have also been issued instructions.A 2008 notification by the state government had banned the use of cattle for transport within the city.
  • Bullock cart owners were given time until March 2009 to phase out using the animals for such transportation and use motorised transport instead. The deadline was further extended to October 2011, giving them three years to make the transition.Animal rights group People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which has been fighting for the cause for the past five years, welcomed the decision, saying it comes as much-awaited relief to hundreds of bullocks.
  • “Forcing bullocks, who are often sick and injured, to pull heavy oil carts on busy, hot and fume-filled Mumbai streets is an act of extreme abuse and we are thrilled that the government has now taken steps to put this archaic practice to an end,” said PETA India Director of Veterinary Affairs Dr Manilal Valliyate.PETA says more than 500 bullocks were used to transport oil from ports in Sewri and Wadala to ration shops across the city.The organisation said many of them were ill, overworked, kept in filthy conditions and pulled heavy loads in all weather conditions.

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