New Delhi, Sep 23 (IANS): Animal rights organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Friday urged the municipal commissioner of Delhi to uphold a ban on horse-drawn carriages in the capital citing cruelty to the animals.
"Forcing horses to pull open carriages through congested traffic is not only a throwback to an unenlightened time but also an accident waiting to happen," said Manilal Valliyate, director of veterinary affairs at PETA India, in a letter to Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Commissioner K.S. Mehra.
"We urge the MCD to follow its own legal directive to phase out carriages in Delhi completely," added Valliyate.
The letter comes days after a horse pulling a carriage on chaotic Mumbai roads collapsed due to exhaustion Sep 9.
Back in 2009, the MCD had posed a ban on horse tongas. However, the civic agency is now mulling revoking the ban due to their old world charm that attracts tourists.
PETA said the animals used in carriages are subjected to torture as they are forced to haul passengers in sweltering heat and extreme cold, and devoid of adequate rest, food and water.
Toronto, London, Paris, and Beijing are among the list of cities that have already banned horse-drawn carriages.