Action taken report on behalf of Himachal Pradesh on reducing the number of horses in Kufri, Himachal Pradesh, 09/02/2024
Action taken report on behalf of Himachal Pradesh by Deputy Conservator of Forests, Shimla Forest Division in compliance to National Green Tribunal order dated December 10, 2023 in the matter of Shailendra Kumar Yadav Vs State of Himachal Pradesh.
Eco Development Committee (EDC) - Kufri has been formed and registered, February 8, 2024. The society would address the issues such as collection of entry fee, proper cleanliness of the site, garbage disposal, fixation of routes, providing basic facilities to the visitors. Under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, a meeting was held, February 2, 2024 with the concerned departments regarding regulation of horses in the Kufri-Mahasu area and steps will be taken to reduce the number of horses from 1029 to 500 with the 10 per cent reduction in each subsequent year. However, the horse owners are not agreeing to the suggestion and a law and order situation has arisen. Horse owners are facing not only livelihood issues but they are facing great difficulty in disposing of the extra horses.
"Reducing to 500 horses in a short span of time will lead to a situation of distress sale or horses being let off in forests which will cause degradation of the forests in the vicinity", the report said.
It was proposed that depending upon fund generated/opportunity available a few of horse owners who would become unemployed would be compensated through the livelihood initiatives which will be undertaken by the 'Eco-Development Committee, Kufri-Mahasu" to augment the employment potential through promotion of eco-friendly activities such as switching over to electric vehicles, various amenities in the form of recreation park, telescope-point, photography point, installation of public amenities like e-toilets which can be operated by the members of the EDC.
"After long deliberations, the horse owners have agreed to reduce the number of horses from 1029 to 700 immediately and will be regulated by the Forest Department through Eco Development Committee (EDC), Kufri-Mahasu".
Grievance of the applicant is that by continuous plying of horses, the forest area in Kufri is adversely being damaged and no remedial action is being taken by the district administration.
Note: The report of February 9, 2024 was uploaded to the NGT site, April 4, 2024.