India, July 21 -- The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Matheran Hill Station Municipal Council (MHSMC) to submit a comprehensive action plan within four weeks for horse waste management, observing that its proposal to introduce electric cargo vehicles (e-tempos) for collecting equine waste fails to address key environmental concerns flagged by an expert committee.

In an order dated July 18, the tribunal said the civic body's proposal lacked crucial details on how horse dung would be transported, processed and scientifically disposed of, and did not explain how it would implement long-term recommendations such as reducing the horse population, relocating stables outside the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ), protecting water sources ...