LI Network
Published on: January 21, 2024 at 15:38 IST
The Supreme Court, has specified that the introduction of E-Rickshaws in Matheran, if permitted, will be exclusively for existing hand cart pullers, aiming to compensate them for the loss of employment due to the transition. Additionally, the Court emphasized a cap on the number of E-rickshaws allowed in Matheran.
The Division Bench of Justices B.R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta addressed this matter in response to an application filed by three representative associations of horsemen (ghodawala sangathans).
These associations sought a modification of a prior order that allowed the trial implementation of eco-friendly e-rickshaws in Matheran. The purpose of this experiment was to assess the feasibility of replacing hand-pulled rickshaws operating in the region.
The Court acknowledged the concerns raised by the man-pulling rickshaws and referred to the committee of experts, including representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Central Pollution Control Board, and the Department of Environment.
This committee, established by a 2003 notification from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, is tasked with making decisions on this issue.
Moreover, the Court highlighted the preservation of Matheran as an Eco-Sensitive Zone and expressed reservations about the impact of laying concrete paver blocks on the city’s natural beauty.
“Even in the reserved forests there are no concrete roads and the safari vehicles are plying on the jungle roads. The same can also be considered for the city of Matheran,” the Court stated, directing the Monitoring Committee to evaluate the situation.
During the hearing, the Court was informed that the Monitoring Committee, in collaboration with IIT Bombay, is contemplating the use of clay paver blocks instead of concrete blocks to prevent soil erosion.
In addition to the findings, the Court issued further directives, instructing the Monitoring Committee to determine the specific roads or streets for E-rickshaws and to establish the permissible number of E-rickshaws in the city.
The Committee is required to submit a comprehensive report within four weeks, and the next hearing is scheduled for March 13, 2024.
It is noteworthy that this case, tagged with the present application, originated in 1995 with T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad, known as “the green man,” filing a writ petition to protect the Nilgiris forest land from illegal deforestation.
The Court, in this landmark case, issued detailed directions for sustainable forest use and established a monitoring and implementation system through regional and state-level communities.
