Number of ponies in Matheran more than doubles in two years

The number of ponies in the Matheran hill station has more than doubled in two years, rising from nearly 70 to 145. The veterinary department’s latest data reveals and addition of 75 ponies, most of them this year. The ponies are used for transporting goods, construction materials among others.
However, this number is nowhere close to the one before the Covid pandemic when the hill station had around 300 ponies.Most of the ponies had ccome from other locations but the numbers later dwindled. The reduction in pony population has been attributed to reduced business and its owners or handlers leaving the hill station. Ponies are crucial to day-to-day life in Matheran as no alternative transport facility is available in the core eco-sensitive zone area.
The Dasturi-Matheran Malvahatuk Kalyankari Sanstha, an association of pony owners, has 7 members. They own the ponies and obtain direct contracts from hoteliers, restaurants, kirana shop owners, construction sector contractors, and material suppliers to cater to their needs. Neral-based pony owner Vilas Chavan said, “Our family has been into the supply chain business using ponies for three generations. Earlier, we were transporting goods from Neral but it is no longer permitted.”
Anil Chavan of pony owners’ association, alleged harassment of its members and stressed the need for reduced interference in the running of their business.