In a letter issued to oil companies including Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum and Indian Oil as well as the Bullock Cart Owners’ Union, the state’s Controller of Rationing Department has said that with the concerned authorities failing to ensure food, water, shelter and medical facilities for the bullocks so far, these animal-drawn tankers should be phased out by the end of March. The department, however, has specified, that an alternative mode of transporting kerosene should be suggested to the bullock owners in order to support their livelihood.

From November 2007, the animal welfare organisation: People for Ethical Treatment to Animals (PETA) has been investigating the use of bullocks for oil transportation. Stating that there are 464 bullock carts in the city and just 200 bullocks, Anuradha Sawhney, chief functionary of PETA said that the animals are overworked.

In a letter addressed to the state on September 30, Sawhney had stated: “We found that the said bullocks are permanently stationed on the main street/pavement opposite the Sewri railway station. They are kept without shelter, in the open throughout the year, irrespective of the weather conditions. Their surroundings are unhygienic and they are tethered on heaps of dung, urine and muck. There is no proper provision for supply of water and food to these bullocks and there’s complete lack of proper medical attention for the injured and sick animals.” ‘