<p>Thane: An NGO has pitched for replacing horses with electric vehicles in Matheran, saying there is a high prevalence of irreversible and untreatable conditions in working equines at the hill station caused by a “lifetime of gruelling labour”.</p><p>Matheran, about 90 km from Mumbai, is a popular pedestrian hill station in Maharashtra’s Raigad district.</p><p>In a release on Friday, the Plant and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) said animal-free means will stop the abuse of animals and protect the livelihood of locals at Matheran.</p><p>It said PAWS founder Dr Nilesh Bhange has demanded that the number of e-rickshaws be increased at the hill station.</p><p>The NGO and an animal husbandry clinic organised a vaccination drive for the ponies at Matheran on August 15, it added.</p>
<p>Thane: An NGO has pitched for replacing horses with electric vehicles in Matheran, saying there is a high prevalence of irreversible and untreatable conditions in working equines at the hill station caused by a “lifetime of gruelling labour”.</p><p>Matheran, about 90 km from Mumbai, is a popular pedestrian hill station in Maharashtra’s Raigad district.</p><p>In a release on Friday, the Plant and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) said animal-free means will stop the abuse of animals and protect the livelihood of locals at Matheran.</p><p>It said PAWS founder Dr Nilesh Bhange has demanded that the number of e-rickshaws be increased at the hill station.</p><p>The NGO and an animal husbandry clinic organised a vaccination drive for the ponies at Matheran on August 15, it added.</p>