Maharashtra News: Horse Activity Driving Pollution In Matheran, MPCB Tells NGT; Recommends Reduction And Stable Relocation
Mumbai, Feb 3: The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that large-scale horse activity has emerged as the single biggest cause of environmental pollution in Matheran, the state’s only vehicle-free hill station. In its detailed submission, the board has recommended a phased reduction in the number of horses, relocation of stables outside the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ), and strict regulation of equine movement to protect the fragile ecosystem.
Matheran, located in the Karjat region of Raigad district, was declared an ESZ by the Union government in 2003 to preserve its forests, biodiversity and colonial-era character. Since motor vehicles are banned inside the town, horses and hand-pulled carts have remained the backbone of local transport for decades. What was once seen as an eco-friendly alternative has now become an environmental burden due to unregulated expansion of tourism.
Scale Of The Problem
According to figures placed before the Tribunal, nearly 460 horses and 200 ponies operate daily in the small hill station, carrying tourists, luggage and goods along narrow mud tracks. The MPCB report states that this concentration of animals in a limited area has resulted in massive generation of dung, urine and dust, directly affecting air, water and soil quality.
The board described Matheran as a “vehicle-free but horse-dependent ecosystem” where the absence of mechanised transport has unintentionally created a different form of pollution. Officials noted that while tourism has grown rapidly in the last decade, infrastructure for waste management and animal regulation has remained almost unchanged.
Residents Move NGT
The matter reached the NGT after local residents Sunil Shinde and Ketan Ramane filed an application in 2024 seeking urgent intervention. The petitioners argued that excessive use of horses has made daily life difficult for citizens and has damaged the town’s natural charm, which attracts thousands of visitors every year.
They pointed out that over three tonnes of horse dung is generated every single day, much of which is left on roadsides or dumped near water bodies. This, they said, has led to foul smell, breeding of flies and mosquitoes, and contamination of streams used by locals. The petition demanded restrictions on the number of horses, scientific waste disposal and introduction of cleaner transport options such as battery-operated vehicles.
Scientific Study Ordered
Taking cognisance of the complaint, the NGT directed the MPCB to conduct a comprehensive environmental assessment along with local authorities. The joint study examined air quality, water samples, soil conditions and public health indicators across different seasons.
The findings were striking. Air monitoring showed that PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅ levels consistently exceeded CPCB limits, especially along popular tourist routes like Charlotte Lake Road and Market Street. Experts attributed this to dried dung particles, constant movement of hooves on unpaved paths and lack of mechanised street cleaning. Importantly, levels of SO₂ and NO₂ were within permissible limits, confirming that the pollution is largely non-industrial and animal-related.
Water And Soil Under Stress
Water analysis painted an even more worrying picture. Samples collected from five locations revealed E.coli counts between 5 and 10 CFU per 100 mL in lakes, 25 CFU in a flowing stream and a shocking 100 CFU in Simpson tank, a stagnant reservoir used by residents. Both BIS and WHO standards mandate zero faecal bacteria in drinking water, indicating serious health risks.
Soil testing during the monsoon detected faecal indicator bacteria and traces of Salmonella, raising concerns about diseases among children, elderly residents and horses themselves. Environmental scientists told the Tribunal that heavy rainfall washes dung directly into drains and water catchments, turning the entire plateau into a contamination zone for several months each year.
Impact On Tourism And Health
Matheran receives more than a million visitors annually. While tourism sustains the local economy, overcrowding and poor waste management are eroding the very attraction people come to enjoy. Hotel owners have complained about foul odour near market areas, and doctors in Karjat report rising cases of stomach infections, allergies and respiratory irritation.
Horse owners and handlers, however, fear that drastic restrictions could destroy their livelihood. Many families have been in the profession for generations. They argue that horses are part of Matheran’s heritage and that authorities should provide better facilities instead of reducing numbers.
MPCB’s Key Recommendations
In its submission, the MPCB concluded that equine activity in its current scale is environmentally unsustainable inside the ESZ. The board emphasised that mere cleaning drives will not solve the crisis and that interventions must target the source.
Major recommendations include:
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Phased reduction in the number of horses and ponies permitted to operate.
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Relocation of stables and fodder yards outside the ESZ with proper waste treatment units.
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Creation of designated horse routes with paved surfaces to minimise dust.
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Protection of lakes and springs through buffer zones and fencing.
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Introduction of eco-friendly alternatives such as e-carts for luggage and emergency movement.
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A three-to-five-year monitoring programme involving MPCB, municipal council and veterinary experts.
Balancing Ecology And Livelihood
Environmentalists have welcomed the report, saying it finally acknowledges a problem ignored for years. “Matheran cannot survive if we treat horses like machines and the town like a stable,” said a Mumbai-based conservationist involved in the study. “Regulation is not anti-livelihood; it is pro-future.”
Local representatives have urged the state government to prepare a rehabilitation package for horse owners, including training for alternative jobs, insurance for animals and modern shelters outside the core zone. Tourism operators believe that cleaner surroundings will ultimately attract more responsible visitors.
What Lies Ahead
The NGT is expected to hear the matter in the coming weeks and may issue binding directions to the Maharashtra government and the Matheran Municipal Council. Any order could transform the way the hill station functions, ending decades of unregulated equine dominance.
Matheran was once celebrated as a model of sustainable tourism because of its ban on cars. The present crisis shows that sustainability requires constant management, not just good intentions. Whether authorities can protect the environment while preserving the town’s unique character will determine the future of this beloved hill retreat.
For now, the MPCB’s message is clear: without decisive reduction of horses and relocation of stables, Matheran’s air, water and soil will continue to deteriorate, threatening both nature and the people who depend on it.cate ecology.
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