BMC Decision on Pigeon Feeding: Protests Erupt
Summary: The closure of Mumbai’s Dadar Kabutarkhana has sparked a heated dispute between the BMC and the Jain community. While authorities cite health risks from pigeon feeding, religious leaders and followers oppose the ban, warning of protests and hunger strikes.
Health Concerns and BMC’s Decision
Pigeons are found in great numbers in the city of Mumbai. There are designated pigeon shelters or feeding stations called kabutarkhanas for them. Recently the Dadar kabutarkhana has garnered a lot of attention and is the trending topic of discussion.
Pigeons are health risks to humans as their droppings can lead to illnesses like respiratory disorders, infections and allergies.
Keeping in mind these health risks, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) decided to lay down a ban on public feeding of pigeons and close down kabutarkhanas, which has caused a controversy.
The BMC had covered the Dadar Kabutakhana with a large tarpaulin, hampering the feeding of pigeons. The pigeons were seen perching on the road, looking for food. Many Jain followers were seen shooing the pigeons off the road, to avoid them from getting killed under the vehicles plying by.
Religious Opposition and Protests
The Jain community, who visit their temple, located across the Dadar Kabutarkhana always fed the pigeons there. It is a part of their religion that no living being should die from hunger. So the community is against the decision of the BMC.
A Jain monk – Muni Nileshchandra Vijay warned that an indefinite hunger strike would be initiated from August 13 “against the decision to shut down Dadar Kabutarkhana to stop people from feeding pigeons”. He said that his community “would not abide by court orders on the issue if it went against their religious practices”. He added that theirs is a peaceful community, but in the interest of religion, they will not keep silent.
Manga Prabhat Lodha – Maharashtra Skill Development Minister, who is a supporter of saving the kabutarkhana-s, has chosen to keep his distance from Muni Vijay’s comments. He commented that he does not agree with Muni Vijay’s statement; he has already spoken twice and is not going to comment further on this matter.
On August 6, the tarpaulin cover was removed by many Jains, causing some damage, so they could feed grains to the pigeons, which led to many clashes with the police.
On Sunday, Muni Vijay said, that they will follow the path of satyagraha and hunger strike and estimated that more than 10 lakh Jains from all over the country will take part in the protest. He said that the ban was targeted towards Jain traditions, and politically motivated with the upcoming elections. He asked why Jainism was being targeted and also said that “Show how many people die after consuming liquor and chicken.”
On Sunday, The BMC officials said that it repaired the damaged bamboo cladding, and covered the pigeon feeding area with silver coloured plastic sheets, of the Dadar kabutarkhana, lying on the west side of Dadar station.
Security has also been beefed up to prevent people from feeding the pigeons and to avert any law-and-order situation. The BMC marshals have also been stationed at the kabutarkhana.
The decision of the BMC has been challenged by the pigeon feeders in the Bombay High Court.
On August 7, the High Court said it ”had only refrained from staying the closure order of the municipal corporation” and not issued an order for closure of the kabutarkhana. It further said that a committee comprising of experts should study the case, keeping in mind, that “”human life is of paramount importance”, before determining if the kabutarkhana should be closed or not.
A few petitions filed by people who feed pigeons challenging the civic body’s decision to ban such feeding and close kabutarkhanas were being heard by the court.
Conclusion
Pigeons thrive in human populated regions as people feed them, be it for religion, for humanity, for kindness. It is also a fact that their droppings lead to a host of prolonged illnesses. The question here is how to ensure that these birds are fed but at the same time do not pose a health risk for humans.
Every living being has a right to live and eat. Humans cannot decide what is best for birds and animals, without considering all the pros and cons.
The government needs to find an amicable solution whereby religious beliefs are not shattered in any way and also avoiding any occurrence of law-and-order situations. This is a very delicate matter and to be handled carefully.
Inputs from various media sources.
- Health News and Updates
- 21 August 2025
- 18:00
