Petitioners appeal for controlled pigeon feeding amid closure of Kabutarkhanas across city
Writing to the BMC commissioner, Bhushan Gagrani, on August 10, the application has appealed for deployment of civic sanitation staffers to maintain hygiene while another has requested for regulated feeding for certain hours.
The applications come along the heels of the Bombay High Court order which on August 7 permitted petitioners to apply to BMC if they intended to feed pigeons and directed BMC to hear applicants and all stakeholders before passing an appropriate decision considering 'larger issue of public health.' The HC said petitioners can file applications seeking vacating of earlier court orders.
In the application filed on August 10, Pallavi Sachin Patil, animal rights activists, has appealed for immediate interim arrangements for uninterrupted feeding and watering of pigeons at their natural and habituated location ranging from existing kabutarkhanas, traditional feeding zones and other residential or public spaces where pigeons thrive. In a bid to ensure hygiene, the petitioner has called for pressing in sanitation contractors and municipal staffers to clean the feeding spots daily or at least thrice in a week. 'Designated signage or markings may be provided to regularize these locations and discourage opposition by ill-informed residents or members of the public,' further read the application.
Meanwhile, another application by petitioner, Sneha Visaria, has requested permission for controlled feeding for staggered durations, each day. Suggesting three time slots between 7.30 am to 8.30 am, 12.00 pm to 1.00 pm and 4.00 pm to 5.00 pm, the petitioner has said that the feeding of pigeons will be carried out in a hygienic manner with cleanliness drive in the feeding spots after 6 pm.
According to petitioners, at least 10 other request forms have also been submitted before the BMC on Tuesday, appealing for controlled feeding.
Earlier in July, the BMC, acting on the directives issued by the state government, launched a city wide crackdown against illegal pigeon feeding by imposing a penalty of Rs. 500 against offenders. It was against this drive that three animal rights activists approached HC asking that the demolition of pigeon-feeding areas be stopped, and that citizens not be prevented from feeding the birds. However, the civic crackdown gathered steam after the High Court order issued on July 30 which directed the civic body to curb 'illegal' and 'defiant' feeding of pigeons in public areas over health concerns.
The BMC move to shut feeding spots and penalise offenders has flared tempers amongst animal lovers as well as members of the Jain community, for whom feeding pigeons hold religious significance. The opposition culminated in a protest near Dadar Kabutarkhana on August 6 where crowds of hundreds clashed with the police to tear down the tarpaulin sheets.
On August 7, the High Court recorded that since the BMC had not revoked or diluted its decision, the ban on feeding in public spaces 'very much stands'. Despite tensions, the BMC's action against illegal feeding birds has continued unabated with at least 3 FIRs filed against offenders and over Rs. 32,000 raked in fines between August 1 and August 11, alone.
The next hearing is scheduled today (August 13), until which period the HC has directed that all earlier orders will continue in every respect. The court will hear the Advocate General for Maharashtra and other parties on the setting up of the committee today.
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