Mumbai: Following pressure from the Jain community and a series of meetings with authorities by Mumbai’s guardian minister, MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha, the BMC has been directed by CM Devendra Fadnavis to explore alternative locations to set up pigeon feeding spots in Mumbai. This comes after complaints of several pigeons dying in Dadar after the kabutar khana was covered with bamboo and tarpaulin.
“The CM has told us to ensure water is not stopped for the pigeons. We have to follow the High Court directives as well. The tarpaulin cover from the Dadar kabutar khana will not be removed. We will work on alternative measures,” said BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani.
Dadar Kabutarkhana | Photo Credits: Salman Ansari
BMC to Present Action Plan to HC on August 7
The next court hearing on the matter is scheduled at the HC on Thursday, August 7, and BMC will present its action report on the kabutar khana closure. “During the hearing, the BMC is expected to seek time from the HC to work on alternative measures in which the court orders are followed and pigeons are saved as well,” an official said.
BMC Imposes ₹1.24 Lakh Penalty for Pigeon Feeding Violations
The BMC expedited its action against the pigeon feeders and closure of 51 kabutar khanas after the state government’s instructions last month, citing health hazards due to the pigeons’ droppings and feathers. From July 3 to August 3, a penalty of Rs 1.24 lakh was imposed on a total of 250 violations across the city for feeding the pigeons. While Dadar’s kabutar khana was covered last week and an FIR was also registered against pigeon feeding at the Mahim police station.
Dadar Kabutarkhana | Photo Credits: Salman Ansari
Over 900 Pigeons Die in Three Days Post Closure, Claims MLA
MLA Parag Shah said, “The pigeons are ‘peace-makers’. It is inhuman to starve them. In three days since Dadar’s kabutar khana was covered up, a total of 918 pigeons have died. Pigeons are not harming us; we humans have increased settlements around their feeding spots. The BMC has several land parcels, like salt-pan land and others, which are viciously encroached. Alternate pigeon feeding spots should be set up there.”
Shah, who is also the former BMC corporator, said that the corporation should work on alternative measures first before the permanent closure of kabutar khanas.
Advocate Kamlesh Shah, member of All India Animals Welfare Board, said, “The CM has clearly said that feeding kabutars is an age-old practice and BMC will be told to start the feeding at the designated places. It is not clear what alternative measures the authorities will work out, but till then, every minute kabaturs are dying. I have seen at several pigeon feeding spots, like at the GPO near CSMT the sweepers were clearing the pigeon dead bodies. They did not know where to dispose of it.”
Activists Accuse Politicians of Vote Bank Politics Ahead of Civic Polls
On the other side, citizens also feel that the issue of kabutar khana closure is being heated eyeing the civic elections. An activist from Dadar, Chetan Kamble said, “It is disheartening to see that the issue of pigeon feeding is turned into a vote bank appeasement ahead of the BMC elections. While local residents are suffering from respiratory illness, leaders are busy defending bird feeding rituals.”
“The city deserves science-backed governance and not emotional manipulation for political mileage,” he added.
