Two BDD chawl rehab buildings get Mhada OC
The buildings have 556 units. Officials said these buildings are ready for possession, subject to a ceremonial takeover date. CM Devendra Fadnavis is likely to attend the programme. tnn
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Business Standard
Explained: Why feeding pigeons has become a political flashpoint in Mumbai
A seemingly routine action of covering up a public pigeon feeding area has turned into a full-blown controversy in Mumbai. It has brought to light a complex issue involving religious traditions, public health concerns, and politicians ahead of the city's municipal elections. According to a report by The Economic Times on Thursday, members of the Jain and Gujarati communities allegedly tore down tarpaulin sheets placed over the iconic Dadar Kabutarkhana (pigeon feeding area) by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). This defied a Bombay High Court ban on pigeon feeding in public spaces. Visuals of the incident have since gone viral, sparking political backlash and reigniting the 'native versus outsider' debate in Mumbai, cultural tension centred around who belongs to the city. These forms of debate centre around identity-linked issues like language, employment, and culture, often arising during elections. Pigeon feeding ban On July 30, 2025, the Bombay High Court ruled that feeding pigeons in public areas such as 'kabutarkhanas' (pigeon feeding spots) posed a serious health hazard and amounted to public nuisance. The court directed the BMC to file FIRs against anyone continuing to feed pigeons in defiance of the order. Rising complaints of respiratory illnesses from pigeon droppings. Environmental and sanitation concerns due to large gatherings of birds in densely populated areas. The order followed complaints from residents, health officials, and environmentalists who argued that unchecked pigeon feeding was harming public health and the urban ecosystem. What is a kabutarkhana? Why is it significant in Mumbai? Kabutarkhanas are traditional public pigeon feeding spots. The most famous among them is the Dadar Kabutarkhana, a Grade II heritage structure located at a key intersection near a Jain temple. For many members of the Jain community, feeding pigeons is a religious and moral act — a form of non-violence and compassion towards living beings. It is seen not just as charity, but as a sacred duty. How did this turn into a protest? Following the High Court's order, the BMC began taking enforcement actions: 142 people were fined between July 13 and August 3, including 51 at Dadar Kabutarkhana. On August 3, the BMC covered the Kabutarkhana with tarpaulin sheets to prevent access. Despite this, on August 6 and 7, groups of Jain protestors forcibly tore down the covers and began feeding pigeons, claiming the birds were starving. Police attempted to intervene, leading to scuffles. Visuals of the protest quickly went viral. What the state government says Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis initially supported enforcement but changed course as tensions rose. On August 5, he said 'abrupt closure' of kabutarkhanas was not advisable. Then he called for 'controlled feeding' under civic supervision to protect both public health and animal welfare. Fadnavis also asked the BMC to set up a formal policy regulating pigeon feeding, explore dedicated aviaries, and conduct scientific studies on health impacts and cleaning methods. Political reactions Shiv Sena (part of ruling coalition) Party MLC Manisha Kayande condemned the protest and said pigeon feeding must be addressed scientifically, not emotionally. Kayande said, "When the kite festival kills birds, where are the animal lovers then?" Bharatiya Janata Party Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha called the protest 'unfortunate', but emphasised the CM's balanced approach. He suggested police may act against those who broke the law. Congress Leader Vijay Wadettiwar accused the ruling Sena-BJP-NCP government of flip-flopping and trying to 'appease' minority voters ahead of elections. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Firmly supports the ban and has called for similar measures in Thane. Why is feeding pigeons harmful? Medical experts and civic leaders point to several risks: Respiratory illnesses are caused by inhaling dust and droppings. For example, pigeon droppings can lead to hypersensitivity pneumonitis Spread of fungal infections and zoonotic diseases Overpopulation of pigeons, reliant on human feeding which disrupts urban ecology Shiv Sena's Manisha Kayande said, 'Pigeons become dependent. Feeding them in public spaces has long-term ecological and health impacts.' What happens next? A report will be submitted to the Bombay High Court. The BMC may file FIRs against those who defied the ban. The bottom line What began as a court-ordered public health measure has escalated into a debate over faith, governance, and electoral strategy. The fate of Mumbai's kabutarkhanas now lies at the intersection of religion, law, and public opinion. [With agency inputs]
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
Tension after crowd forcefully opens Dadar Kabutarkhana to feed pigeons
Over a hundred members of the Jain community took to the streets Wednesday morning, forcefully opened the Dadar Kabutarkhana and offered grains to pigeons at a time when the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)'s closure of such feeding spots has ruffled feathers across quarters in the city. Anticipating the agitation and protest, BMC Tuesday sought police assistance in taking action against those who would be found feeding pigeons at public spaces. The protest comes a day after Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed BMC to permit the feeding of pigeons in a controlled manner. Over the weekend, BMC shut the 92-year-old feeding spot in Dadar and lodged FIRs, much to the chagrin of animal rights activists and members of the Jain community for whom feeding pigeons holds religious significance. Tensions flared in Dadar where hundreds of Jain community members flocked to the Kabutarkhana. Some of them climbed atop the bamboo structure, and pulled down the tarpaulin sheets over the site, which the BMC had installed over the weekend. Following the partial removal of the cover, the crowd, led by women, climbed inside the feeding ground and offered grains to the pigeons even as the police attempted to control the protesters. Tucked in the bustling neighbourhood near Dadar railway station, Dadar Kabutarkhana — established in 1933 — is maintained by the Dadar Kabutarkhana Trust. According to members of the trust, over 980 pigeons had died in the vicinity over the past 3 days. 'It was to offer prayers, that a peace gathering had initially been planned on Wednesday. However, after our meeting with the Chief Minister where he spoke in favour of us, we had called off the gathering. Even as we had conveyed a message of the cancellation throughout the night, some members perhaps did not receive the message and gathered at the site on Wednesday morning,' said Sandeep Doshi from the Dadar Kabutarkhana Trust. He maintained that the extreme reactions were triggered by members outside of the Jain community, who had also gathered on Wednesday. 'Some other members from other communities also gathered and the extreme action was taken by them. While some things happened in the heat of the moment, we did not break anything, did not fight with the police nor the administration,' added Doshi. Even as the Mumbai Police had on Wednesday morning said that it was in the process of filing an FIR, officials said that no FIR was filed until Wednesday. 'We can file an FIR only on the basis of complaints filed by BMC, as the High Court had directed the BMC to take action on the matter,' an official from Mumbai Police told The Indian Express. Meanwhile, the BMC had not filed any complaints until Wednesday evening. Dadar Kabutarkhana is among the 44 feeding spots the civic body has initiated action against for pigeon feeding. Between July 13 and August 3, at least 141 people have been fined for feeding pigeons with the civic body collecting over Rs. 68,700 in penalties. Mumbai is home to at least 51 such Kabutarkhanas with the Maharashtra Government on July 3 calling for the closure of these feeding sites owing to concerns of public health hazards. However, BMC's stance on the closure of Kabutar Khanas gained further momentum after the Bombay High Court order issued on July 30, directing the civic body to lodge FIRs against those who 'illegally' and in a 'defiant' manner feed pigeons at Dadar West, among other feeding areas in Mumbai, despite the policy prohibiting the feeding. Amid the civic body shutting pigeon feeding across the city, members of the Jain community Monday staged a 'Shantidoot Yatra' from Colaba to the Gateway of India, appealing for the reversal of the decision. Meanwhile, as the protest subdued by Wednesday afternoon, the area continued to wear a tense look with the Mumbai police deploying its personnel while also later pressing in barricades. With the tarpaulin sheets and plastic cover partially removed, several pigeons returned into the central feeding spot while many continued to flutter around the grade-II heritage structure. As members of the Dadar Kabutarkhana trust maintained that the forceful opening was triggered by members outside of the community, the incident triggered reactions across the political spectrum. In the aftermath of the incident, Maharashtra cabinet minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha backed the Dadar Kabutarkhana Trust. He said, 'The Kabutarkhana trust had no role to play in this incident with the members maintaining that the incident was triggered by members of another community. Some people came here and the Jain community and monks had no role to play in the matter.' Earlier on August 4, Lodha had written to the civic chief, Bhushan Gagrani, calling for alternate feeding spots in the city. Meanwhile, Manisha Kayande, Shiv Sena UBT leader who had raised the issue of illegal Kabutarkhanas in council in July, said, 'Members of the Jain community tore the sheets which had been laid over the feeding site. This is a complete contempt of the High Court. This is no religious subject but in fact, a subject of medical science and concerns birds and animals. However, now, voices of people who have suffered ailments due to the pigeons have been completely stifled. How is this appropriate and who will help them?' 'There has been news today that some animal lovers and particularly members of the Jain community have done destruction at the Dadar Kabutarkhana. This is not true. As per the decision taken on Tuesday, people had only come there to feed birds by opening the tarpaulin,' Sandeep Bhandari, president of BJP's Jain cell said on Wednesday. Earlier on Tuesday, CM Fadnavis had directed BMC to facilitate feeding of pigeons in public spaces in a controlled manner to ensure that the birds do not starve. Even as the civic body maintained that the sites would remain closed until the Bombay High Court hearing on August 7, officials said BMC was exploring the options of feeding for staggered durations, following Fadnavis's directives.
Economic Times
5 days ago
- Economic Times
Vantara proposes a dedicated rehab centre for elephant Madhuri (Mahadevi) in Kolhapur, supports legal move for her return
Synopsis Vantara proposes a specialized elephant rehabilitation center in Kolhapur for Madhuri, in collaboration with the Jain Math and the Maharashtra Forest Department, following appeals from the Jain community. This initiative includes advanced medical facilities and natural enclosures tailored for Madhuri's well-being. Vantara supports the petition for Madhuri's return, emphasizing its compliance with court orders and aiming to address community concerns. ET Special Vantara has put forth a proposal to establish a satellite rehabilitation centre for the elephant Madhuri in Kolhapur's Nandani region. The proposed initiative will be developed in collaboration with the Jain Math and the Maharashtra Forest Department. If sanctioned, the new facility will feature state-of-the-art medical infrastructure, open and naturalistic enclosures, and therapy-focused amenities designed specifically for Madhuri's health and move follows growing appeals from the Jain community, who hold the elephant, Madhuri in deep spiritual regard. Recognising the sentiment, Vantara has also pledged its support for any petition jointly filed by the Jain Math and the Maharashtra Government before the Supreme Court seeking Madhuri's return to Kolhapur.' We recognise and respect the deep emotional and cultural significance Madhuri holds for the community ,' the organisation said in an official statement, adding that their involvement was solely to comply with court orders and not to disrupt religious offer has received acknowledgement from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who shared the update on X. State Government Stands Firm With Devotees!Chaired a meeting regarding the issue of the Mahadevi elephant from Nandani Math, Taluka Shirol, District Kolhapur, in Mumbai today. For 34 years, Madhuri, also known as Mahadevi has been a part of Nandani Math's tradition and the… — Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 5, 2025 ' Good news is that they are happy to join Maharashtra Government's petition before the Hon'ble Supreme Court for the smooth passage of the elephant 'Madhuri' back to the Math ,' he wrote. Fadnavis also noted Vantara's readiness to build the specialised centre in Kolhapur if the Supreme Court grants Madhuri's return. Vantara has reiterated that the decision to relocate Madhuri was made by the Supreme Court and the Bombay High Court, and that its role was limited to housing and caring for the elephant at its Gujarat-based rehabilitation facility as directed by the courts. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vantara (@vantara) In a detailed statement, the organisation expressed regret that its involvement, though legally mandated, had caused concern within the Jain community. It further clarified that the proposed Kolhapur facility is not a bid for recognition but a response aligned with any future court approval be granted, the planned centre would include advanced features like hydrotherapy ponds, laser therapy units, chain-free open enclosures, and 24/7 veterinary services tailored to Madhuri's specific needs. ' Let us move forward not in opposition but in unity, with love for Madhuri at the heart of it all ,' the statement concludes.
