Kerala: Pack mules cause inconvenience

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Link: http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/16/stories/2006121621060500.htm

 

Pack mules cause inconvenience

 

Radhakrishnan Kuttoor

 

Pilgrims complain of lung ailments and breathing trouble

 

INEVITABLE HEALTH HAZARD: Mules transporting goods along the Pampa-

Sannidhanam trekking path.

 

 

PATHANAMTHITTA: Mules transporting goods along the Pampa-Sannidhanam

trekking path are causing inconvenience to Sabarimala pilgrims. The

mules often block the flow of pilgrims during rush days and at times

create traffic blocks on the roads at Pampa.

 

Also, there are reports of dry dung causing lung ailments and

breathing troubles to a number of pilgrims and the staff on special

duty at Sabarimala.

 

However, transportation of goods sans pack donkeys is a costly affair

at Sabarimala. Headload workers are the only alternative during the

pilgrim season when tractors are not allowed on the trekking path.

Also, goods transportation on mule's back is an age-old tradition in

the hilly terrains.

 

Mules are used to carry provisions from Pampa to the Sannidhanam and

copra from the Sannidhanam to the foothills of Sabarimala at Pampa

during the pilgrim season. Though contractors are allowed to put a

maximum load of 35 kg on the back of a pack mule on the Sabarimala

trekking path, they often make the animal carry loads of 80 kg to 100

kg. Certain contractors use the pack animal to transport cement bags

to the Sannidhanam. Many of these animals are not even properly fed.

 

There are reports of contractors adopting crude methods to identify

their mules. Cutting the animal's ear-ends or tail-ends, laceration

of the abdomen and face, removing of hairs from the head, back, etc.,

are some of the methods.

 

SPCA concern

 

 

The Society for Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals (SPCA) Idukki

unit secretary A.G. Babu has condemned the cruelty to mules in

Sabarimala. He says the animals are brought to Sabarimala from

Kambam, Theni, Thevaram and Bodinaikanur in Tamil Nadu.

 

In a letter to Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president G. Raman

Nair, Mr. Babu says that most of the animals are brought to Pampa

violating all provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act

1960.

 

According to Mr. Babu, since Sabarimala is situated in the Periyar

Tiger Reserve, the authorities should take all necessary steps to

ensure that the pack mules are not carriers of communicable diseases

such as anthrax. The TDB and the Animal Husbandry Department should

take immediate steps to check all sorts of cruelty to pack mules in

Sabarimala without any delay.

 

A seasonal veterinary camp dispensary has been functioning at Pampa

since 1996 on the directions of the Kerala High Court to check

cruelty to animals.