‘Kabootars are dangerous': Maharashtra govt orders immediate shutdown of pigeon feeding points in Mumbai
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Health risk raised in legislative council
51 feeding points to be targeted
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Need for public awareness on pigeon feeding
Unauthorized feeding spots already removed
Protest erupted over similar action last year
Activists allege political interference in demolition
Previous attempts to block pigeon feeding reported
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Animal rights groups escalate protest to higher authorities
The Maharashtra government has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to immediately begin shutting down all 'kabootar khanas', pigeon feeding points, in Mumbai, citing public health concerns related to pigeon droppings. The move follows growing complaints that the sites are causing respiratory problems among residents.Shiv Sena leader and nominated MLC Manisha Kayande raised the issue in the Maharashtra legislative council on Thursday. She said, 'These 'kabootar khanas' pose a danger to the people living around them as their waste and feathers lead to respiratory diseases.'BJP leader Chitra Wagh, also a nominated member of the Council, added that she had lost a family member due to pigeon-related health complications. 'I lost my aunt due to respiratory diseases arising from pigeon droppings,' she said.Responding to the matter on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Urban Development Minister Uday Samant informed the House that there are 51 'kabootar khanas' in Mumbai.'The civic body will be asked to start (an awareness) drive against 'kabootar khanas' within a month. Directions will be issued to the BMC to immediately start the process of shutting 'kabootar khanas',' Samant said.Samant highlighted the need to inform the public about the risks of feeding pigeons. He mentioned that pigeons have been observed eating leftover fast food at public places like Girgaum Chowpatty.He said the Dadar 'kabootar khana', one of the city's most well-known pigeon feeding spots, was briefly shut but reopened after residents resumed feeding birds there.In a written reply, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde stated that unauthorised 'kabootar khanas' in Santacruz East, Daulat Nagar, and Santacruz West have already been shut. The BMC has replaced those areas with traffic islands and Miyawaki-style gardens, he added.The civic body is now expected to carry out further closures as per the government's instructions.The demolition of a long-standing pigeon feeding area at Gowalia Tank in South Mumbai during Dhanteras last year drew strong criticism from animal welfare groups and bird lovers. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) removed the 'kabootar khana' structure, triggering outrage among activists, who alleged political motives behind the move.Animal welfare volunteers said the decision to remove the kabootar khana was taken following a closed-door meeting involving local residents and political workers the previous night. Sneha Visaria from the Just Smile Charitable Trust said, 'We came to know that there was a meeting of some local residents and political workers of a particular party on Monday night, on the issue of demolishing this 15-year-old kabootar khana at Gowalia Tank (August Kranti Maidan). Hence, it was demolished to get their votes. We animal lovers immediately called up the police control number and also tried to talk to the local civic officials to protest against this.'Visaria added that this wasn't the first attempt to restrict bird feeding at the site. 'Several pigeons died three months ago as feeders were stopped from giving them food. Now, again the tiles at the site were broken. This is against our Constitutional duty to show compassion for birds and animals. The Animal Welfare Board of India also supported our cause of feeding birds by writing to the BMC in 2022,' she said.She alleged that flower pots had been placed at the spot a few months earlier to obstruct access and discourage pigeon feeding.Multiple animal rights organisations and Jain religious bodies are planning to escalate the matter by writing to state and central authorities. Letters are expected to be sent to the Animal Welfare Board of India and the Prime Minister's Office, requesting intervention and the preservation of long-standing bird feeding areas.They argue that the sudden removal of such spaces, without consultation, undermines decades-old practices and disrespects the sentiments of communities that support animal welfare. These groups are asking the government to consider these feeding points as cultural and compassionate spaces rather than targets for removal.(Inputs from PTI)
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