Expert Committee Suggests Before NGT To Regulate Number Of Horses To Protect Matheran Hill Station

The report said, “It may be seen that current level of investigation reveals various measures to be taken to control the undesirable effects of horse dung presence in Matheran Area. The measures may be adoption of effective collection and disposal of horse dung, imposing control on number of horses, etc. Final report will be submitted after second phase of testing scheduled during September to December 2025 and subsequent evaluation of test results”.

The petition before the NGT concerned the alleged unregulated use of large number of horses and ponies in the area, leading to a daily accumulation of over three tonnes of horse dung.

On 20 October 2024, the NGT had constituted a three-member Joint Committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and the Matheran Hill Station Municipal Council to conduct a scientific evaluation of the ecological damage in Matheran and suggest remedial measures.

During a hearing on 15 April 2024, the MPCB submitted an affidavit stating that Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University, Raigad was appointed as the expert agency to undertake the environmental study. The interim report of the university suggested the need to reduce the number of horses in the Matheran Area to prevent ecological degradation.

The final report would be submitted after the final phase of testing between September and December 2025. The MPCB thus requested the NGT to hear the matter after the final report is submitted.

The NGT will next hear the matter on 30 January 2026.

Case title: Sunil Ramchandra Shinde & Anr. vs. State of Maharashtra & Ors (Original Application No. 210 Of 2024(WZ))

Appearances:

For Applicants: Mr. Tushar Kumar, Advocate

For Respondents: Mr. Aniruddha S. Kulkarni for R1/State, Mr. Shubham Rathod, Advocate h/f, Mr. Rahul Garg, Advocate for R-2/MoEF&CC, Ms. Manasi Joshi, Advocate along-with Ms. Pooja Natu, Advocate for R-4/MPCB, Ms. Deepali Bagla, Advocate for R-5 to 7