Maha govt to set up panel on rehabilitating 'Victoria' owners

Maharashtra government has decided to set up a cabinet sub-committee headed by Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar to discuss ways of rehabilitating the owners of 'Victoria', the iconic horse-driven carriages which were discontinued after a Bombay High Court order last year.
According to a Government Resolution (GR), the panel will comprise Industries Minister Subhash Desai, School Education Minister Vinod Tawde, Tourism Minister Jaikumar Raval, Animal Husbandry minister Mahadev Jankar and Secretary (animal husbandry).
The sub-committee will study the proposal to rehabilitate the owners and riders of Victorias and submit a report in the matter.
The proposal is to provide them hawkers license from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and also discuss related issues.

The HC had completely banned Victorias from plying on Mumbai roads a year after its order issued on June 8, 2015.
It had banned the Victorias as they were "illegal" and violated the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
The court had also instructed the state government to chalk out a rehabilitation scheme for families operating the business.
The HC had directed the authorities to ensure that use of horse-driven carriages in Mumbai be completely stopped from June this year.