Covered in bandages, a costumed ‘bull’ in a wheelchair stood outside the Indian Oil petrol station off MG Road.
Covered in bandages, a costumed ‘bull’ in a wheelchair stood outside the Indian Oil petrol station off MG Road condemning the use of bullock carts for transporting oil, kerosene and petrol.
Volunteers of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India’s demonstration on Thursday was part of their nation-wide campaign to force Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) follow the Maharashtra government’s ban on the use of bullock carts in Mumbai. Peta has demanded that motorised vehicles be used henceforth.
Manilal Valliyate, director of veterinary affairs, Peta said, “IOCL gives a lip service to Maharashtra’s ban on the use of bulls to pull oil containers through traffic. The company has done nothing to switch to a humane method of transporting oil.”
Over 600 bullock carts still ply on Mumbai’s roads transporting crude oil, kerosene and petrol.
“IOCL has the resources and the ethical responsibility to make sure that bulls don’t continue to suffer for the company’s profits,” he said.
In 2008, Maharashtra’s food and civil supplies ministry had decided to phase out the use of bullock carts to transport kerosene in Mumbai. “They were given a deadline of March 31, 2009. Despite this, more than 600 bullocks, of which 270 are used by IOCL, are still seen on the streets of Mumbai,” he said.
Peta officials say Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petrolem are also using bullock to transport fuel in Mumbai.
“The animals endure tremendous suffering. Many are underweight and ill. They are kept in filthy conditions and are forced to work beyond their physical capabilities pulling heavy loads in extreme weather,” he said.
Due to overworking, the bullock have become ill and need immediate attention.
“Many suffer from acute and chronic inflammation caused by pressure from the yoke harness. Many have maggot-infested wounds. Some have infected sores along with acute arthritis and intestinal problems like diarrhoea,” he said.
Stating that their efforts to communicate with IOCL officials have been in vain, he said, “We were initially assured that they would stick to the law. But then, nothing has been done and the carts are still on the street. They say that they are helpless, but a company like IOCL has resources to shift from animal transport to motorised transport mode,” he said.
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