Latest news with #Kabootarkhanas
Indian Express
05-08-2025
- General
- Indian Express
After CM's directive, BMC to explore feeding pigeons in staggered hours
Following a directive from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to ensure pigeons are not left starving amid an ongoing crackdown on feeding birds in public spaces, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is now working on a plan to allow controlled feeding at designated locations. Mumbai's municipal commissioner and state-appointed administrator Bhushan Gagrani said while the Kabootarkhanas won't be reopened immediately, the civic body is actively considering interim measures that would align with the Bombay High Court orders. 'The CM has directed us to find an alternate measure to allow feeding of pigeons in Mumbai. This could be done by allowing the Kabootarkhanas to stay open for a few hours during the day when people can feed the birds. However, the decision on the staggered timings have not been taken yet. We are not planning to reopen the shut Kabootarkhanas immediately, since we are contemplating on our next move. The HC is set to hear the case again on August 7 (Thursday) and as both we (BMC) and the state government are party to this case, we may ask the court to form an expert panel who would coordinate in framing SOP,' Gagrani told The Indian Express on Tuesday. The civic body is expected to place its proposal, including a potential plan for time-bound feeding under expert supervision, before the Bombay High Court when the matter is heard on Thursday. Any move to reopen Kabootarkhanas, even partially, is likely to be contingent on the court's guidance. Kabutarkhanas are open public spaces where feeding of pigeons is a regular practice, particularly at major junctions in Mumbai. The Dadar Kabootarkhana, built in 1933, is managed by a local trust and has been a focal point for bird lovers and religious communities alike. The BMC had earlier acted on the Bombay High Court's July 30 order directing the civic body to curb 'illegal' and 'defiant' feeding of pigeons in public areas such as Dadar West, citing health hazards like fungal infections and respiratory issues. 'All citizens are hereby informed that it is strictly prohibited to offer and feed food items to birds and animals at this site. Feeding food to birds at places of public gathering like these can trigger fungal infection and respiratory diseases,' a BMC notice stated. However, the enforcement drive triggered sharp reactions from members of the Jain community, who held a protest on August 4 demanding the reversal of the decision. In a meeting with officials on Tuesday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis went against the immediate closure of Kabootarkhanas and suggested formulating rules on specific times to feed pigeons. Earlier in the day before the CMs meeting, the BMC had written to the Mumbai Police seeking support in enforcing the court's orders and taking action against violators. 'The BMC is acting on the basis of the HC's direction. If we allow pigeon feeding to continue, then we will be in contempt of court. Therefore, unless a proper SOP is framed under the court's guidance, we can't allow free feeding of the birds till then,' said a civic official. According to records, Mumbai has at least 51 Kabutarkhanas across the city, with the Dadar one being among the most prominent. Trustees of the Dadar Kabutarkhana Trust and animal welfare activists have filed petitions in court against the BMC's closure drive.
Indian Express
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Fadnavis heeds public demand; govt to take up cases of elephant Madhuri, Kabutarkhanas
Amid controversy over shutting of Kabutarkhanas (pigeon shelters) in Mumbai and shifting of and elephant from Kolhapur to Vantara in Gujarat, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday heeded public demands for state government's intervention in these cases. In the case of Madhuri, the female elephant shifted to Vantara in Gujarat from a mutt in Kolhapur district, Fadnavis said that the state government will file a review petition in the Supreme Court to bring her back to Maharashtra. Even in the case of Bombay High Court's decision on pigeon feeding and order to close Kabootarkhanas, the CM said that if necessary, the state government will present its side at the Supreme Court. Following widespread protests across Kolhapur against the rehabilitation of Madhuri — also known as Mahadevi — to the Vantara facility from the Swastishri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami Sansthan Mutt, Fadnavis convened a meeting with ministers and stakeholders. Vantara is a state-of-the-art animal rescue centre run by Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation. The controversy arose in July when the Bombay High Court ordered the rehabilitation of the ailing elephant, which was housed in the Jain Mutt in Nandini village in Shirol taluka, based on a petition by animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The Supreme Court had also upheld the decision of the Bombay High Court subsequently. 'Considering the traditions of Nandani Math and the sentiments of local people, efforts will be made to bring Madhuri back to Math through legal process. Madhuri has been in Nandani Math for the past 34 years, and there is a public sentiment that she should be brought back. Keeping this in mind, the state government will file a review petition. The mutt should also include the state government in its petition. Also, a separate detailed affidavit will be filed in the Supreme Court on behalf of the forest department,' said Fadnavis in a statement. Once the elephant is brought back, the state government will set up a team, including a veterinarian, to take care of the elephant and provide necessary assistance, he said. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that the forest department should collect information about all the elephants that were taken out of Maharashtra. Congress MLC Satej Patil said that his party stands with the local people on the issue and believes that the female elephant, who is an integral part of the mutt, should be returned. Former Lok Sabha MP Raju Shetti said that a conspiracy was hatched to snatch the female elephant from the mutt. 'A number of mutts in Maharashtra and Karnataka are getting notices to take away the elephants. This has to be stopped and probed,' said Shetti. On July 30, when the team from Vantara came to transport Mahadevi from Shirol, there was an outpour of grief by local residents, who refused to allow the vehicle to move. In a different case, action against Kabutarkhanas (pigeon shelters) following a Bombay High Court order is likely to get diluted with the CM talking against their immediate closure and directing the civic body to continue controlled feeding to pigeons. On July 31, the Bombay High Court directed the closure of Kabutarkhanas citing health risks involved and based on it, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) covered the pigeon shelter in Dadar. Several Jain organisations objected to it citing their century-old tradition and were supported by minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha. In the wake of the opposition, Fadnavis called a meeting of officials on Tuesday. At the meeting, Fadnavis directed the authorities to conduct a study on the health issues caused by Kabutarkhanas. 'He also mentioned that immediate closure of Kabutarkhanas is not appropriate. Instead, there can be fixed timings for giving them food so control feeding is possible. He also directed the civic body to look for machines to clean pigeon poop, which poses a health risk,' said a government official. 'The hearing on writ petitions filed regarding Kabutarkhanas is ongoing and the state government as well as the BMC will present the side. If necessary, the state government will present its side at the Supreme Court as well,' said the CM. He also directed the BMC to set up a bird shelter. Lodha said after the meeting that the BMC would restore the water connection and remove the cover on the Dadar Kabutarkhana. 'As far as health risks are concerned, CM Fadnavis has strictly directed that all precautions such as cleaning and restricted feeding will be taken. People's health is of utmost importance to us,' he said.
