MUMBAI: The iconic horse carts of Mumbai, popularly known as ‘Victorias’, are all set to become part of history as Maharashtra government gears up to rehabilitate around 221 families dependent on this old mode of conveyance.
The Bombay High Court in its order of June 8, 2015, had declared running the horse carts in the city as “completely illegal” and had asked the government to come up with a policy to rehabilitate the drivers and owners of Victorias, and also their families.
The policy for rehabilitation, as recommended by a cabinet sub-committee, would apply to 91 owners and 130 drivers of the Victoria horse carts in the city. The policy offers them a one-time compensation of Rs 1 lakh and a hawker’s license, and one time compensation of Rs 3 lakh if they do not want a hawker’s license. With this hawker’s license, they would be able to carry out some other business at the prescribed place by the state government, a senior CMO official said.
The HC’s decision came after the Mumbai Traffic Police took a stand that the horse carts did not serve as a means of public conveyance anymore and had just remained a mode of amusement, defying the purpose for which they had been granted license under Bombay Public Conveyance Act of 1920. The police had cited several other reasons like safety concerns, increasing traffic and ill health of the horses that might spread diseases.
The High Court had recently lashed out at the government for delay in bringing out the policy.