Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami Ji, 

Every year a large number of equines are abused to death in Uttarakhand’s mountain tracks because of the absence of relevant policy of the Government and the reluctance of the State Police as well as local authorities to learn from earlier blunders. The delicate Himalayan ecosystem at the pilgrim tracks of Uttarakhand is reeling under immense pressure owing to the increased footfall during every summer. The number of people visiting such a fragile ecosystem for tourism or pilgrimage, is disproportionate to the carrying capacity of the region. Added to this is the unimaginably large number of horses and mules that are brought along to traverse the path alongside pilgrims and tourists night and day. This brings to the fore several issues that need to be addressed immediately in order to protect our Himalayan ecosystem from being polluted by irresponsible tourism and mismanagement of animal population. 

More than 1000 mules have died over the last few weeks at the Kedarnath track alone. Dozens of people have also died on the slippery tracks made more slippery by the urine and dung of the mules and horses. The already narrow path is also made more crowded by the presence of these mules and pilgrims causing chaos, panic and accidents on the path, with several people and animals suffering serious injuries or even falling to their death. Besides the inadequate waste-disposal leading to serious safety and sanitation hazards in the ecologically fragile zone, the carcases of the dead horses and mules are left to rot along the banks of the rivers or even thrown into the river with scant regard for the statutory provisions for disposal of pollutants and carcasses. 

In addition to this, there is no system of quarantine for the horses and mules that are crowded together in such large numbers, and in the absence of medical check-ups, vaccinations or any such veterinary facility available for these animals, several of them succumb to communicable diseases.

In 2009, a massive outbreak of equine influenza killed thousands of mules in Uttarakhand and in 2013 more than 6000 equines perished on the Kedarnath track alone. One such serious communicable Zoonotic disease is Glanders, which causes serious respiratory disorders in the animals, leading to a very painful death.This is a zoonotic disease that has the capability of being transferred to the persons who come in contact with infected, even asymptomatic animals. There is no health check-up facility for people to screen them for Glanders either, resulting in the possibility of several pilgrims being infected on their way back home from the journey. 

As concerned citizens of the country, we urge you to take the following steps to prevent the imminent calamity waiting to befall the region and the people visiting this fragile ecosystem: 

1. Notification of Rules - In order to give effect to the Rules notified by the Central Government under Section 38 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 - namely: The Prevention of Cruelty to Draught and Pack Animals Rules, 1965 
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Licensing of Farriers) Rules, 1965 
must be notified by the Government of Uttarakhand without any further delay so that the State Police may use these provisions along with the provisions of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and the Indian Penal Code, 1860 to take necessary steps to prevent any abuse of equines. 

2. Policy for Working Equines in Uttarakhand: 

On 29.10.2014, in a meeting of the Uttarakhand State Animal Welfare Board chaired by Hon’ble Animal Husbandry Minister, Government of Uttarakhand, a unanimous decision was taken to recommend a policy for the State Government to adopt regarding use of equines on pilgrim tracks in Uttarakhand. The Draft Policy provided by the Uttarakhand State Animal Welfare Board must be updated and notified forthwith. The Policy must contain tangible steps to be taken by officers who shall be accountable for the following: 

Tagging and Testing - All equines brought to the track need to be tagged, tested and quarantined for a minimum of 15 days. Additionally, an endurance test needs to be conducted in order to ensure that the mules are healthy enough to endure the arduous journey with weights on their backs. 

Identification of Tracks - Tracks with adequate infrastructure for plying mules on need to be identified and mules need to be discontinued from all other tracks that don’t meet these requirements. 

Construction of sheds with fodder and water - Sheds need to be available at every two kilometres to protect the mules from the elements. These sheds need to have warm water and fodder to safeguard the animals from colic, pneumonia, influenza, etc. 

Veterinary Clinics and Hospital Facilities - Such clinics with trained veterinary staff need to be present at every 2 kilometres 

Shelter Stables for Abandoned Equines - Several equines are being discontinued and abandoned in each district. Adequate shelter and food/water needs to be provided for such abandoned animals 

Calculation of Carrying Capacity - Based on the infrastructure and supply of fodder and warm water available, the carrying capacity of each track needs to be calculated and it must be ensured that the number of mules on each track does not exceed this number 

Prevention of Cruelty - The local authorities incharge of maintenance of each track must ensure that no equine is made to work in a manner which is violative of The Prevention of Cruelty to Draught and Pack Animals Rules, 1965; that no equine is made to walk longer than 10 kms on a hilly track in a day; that no equine is made to carry more weight than is prescribed under the above mentioned Rules; that no equine which has not received a Fitness Certificate from the State Equine Quarantine Center (if equine is from outside the State) and from the District Veterinary Hospital (if equine is from within the State) must not be permitted to be used as a working equine anywhere in Uttarakhand. 

Convoy Discipline - Equines on the tracks of the Char Dham, Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and Hemkund Sahib must necessarily move in convoys. An SOP must be created and each convoy must be briefed on what to do in case of a colic attack, accident or landslide. A veterinary officer must accompany each convoy and such movement must be only at fixed times in a disciplined manner, overseen by ITBP officers - since they have rendered support during the Amarnath Yatra in the past and have used equines for logistical support in a reasonable manner for decades. 

3. Waste and Carcass Disposal - The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) must ensure that for all equines being used in the hills, all necessary arrangements for disposal of solid and liquid waste and carcasses has been created by local authorities. Under no circumstances must solid or liquid waste of the equines be allowed to be dumped in water bodies. Environmental compensation must be imposed on local authorities and equine owners in case of any violations. 

4. Monitoring and Evaluation - The overall policy for regulating the movement of equines anywhere in Uttarakhand must be formulated and bi-annual evaluation held only in consultation with the Officers of the Indo Tibetan Border Police and their Veterinary Commandant. The District Chief Veterinary Officer must keep an account of the number of equines present in a district, the number of equines working on any track, the number of equines injured on a particular day, the number of equines that died on any particular day, the number of cruelty cases registered with the District Police and the number of equines tested for communicable diseases, the number of equines that test positive for Glanders or any other disease. Such data must be communicated to the concerned District Magistrate and Director, Animal Husbandry on a daily basis for necessary evaluation of the situation before it deteriorates irreparably. Similar reporting/monitoring mechanisms must be applicable to Zila Panchayat, SPCB and Police Departments also. 

5. Training and Capacity Building - with regard to working equines in Uttarakhand, the officers of the Police Department and the Animal Husbandry Department must undergo periodical sensitisation and capacity building sessions to be able to take action against legal violations and provide quality veterinary care respectively as per their mandate. 

In the absence of the above measures being brought into force, it is our sincere request to you to immediately issue a notice to ban the use of horses and mules on the tracks in the upper reaches of the State, as the practice of using thousands of equines is not sustainable and is adding to unwanted pressure on the already fragile land, rivers and the entire eco-system that is burdened beyond capacity by the onslaught of visitors especially during summer vacations. We urge you to set up a system where the visitors carry on their journey in a disciplined and organized manner without polluting the lands and rivers, so that the sanctity of the Sub-Himalayan region is maintained and preserved for the generations to come.