Mumbai Update: Jain Community Representative Submits Petition to BMC Chief Bhushan Gagrani Demanding Reinstatement of Pigeon Eateries (Kabutar Khana)
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is currently weighing the possibility of reopening Kabutar Khanas (pigeon feeding spots) in Mumbai, following the Bombay High Court's (HC) stance on public health concerns.
Advocate Kamlesh Shah, a member of the All India Animal Welfare Board, stated that the BMC has received a letter for permission to reopen pigeon feeding, and it is likely that the reopening will take place on Monday, after receiving clearance from their legal department or instructions from the state in accordance with the HC order.
The HC had upheld the BMC’s ban on feeding pigeons at Kabutar Khanas due to significant health risks from large gatherings of birds. However, the court did not order the closures directly but refused to stop the BMC's move to prohibit feeding and suggested forming an expert committee to devise suitable SOPs for the future of Kabutarkhanas.
The BMC is now considering a compromise approach, which involves controlled and staggered feeding hours at designated locations, to ensure pigeons are not left starving while addressing public health concerns. This strategy aligns with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's directive to ensure pigeons are not left starving, without violating the HC's concerns.
Political leaders from the Jain and Gujarati communities, strong BJP supporters, have pressured the BMC, warning of electoral backlash if Kabutar Khanas remain closed. The Jain community views pigeon feeding as a religious tradition and has even resorted to using the threat of NOTA votes as leverage to pressure the BMC into reopening the kabutar khanas.
The BMC has been enforcing against illegal feeding by imposing fines and FIRs in various wards with high violation rates. The civic body intends to present its proposal for staggered and supervised feeding hours to the court, seeking a balanced resolution that respects religious sentiments without compromising public health and sanitation.
The upcoming BMC elections are a significant concern for the BJP MLA due to the community's strong voting power. The Jain community claims that thousands of pigeons have died due to starvation and thirst since the kabutar khanas have been closed.
However, it's important to note that the Bombay High Court has clarified it did not order the closure of kabutar khanas. The HC's stance emphasizes human safety over other concerns, with the court allowing BMC to block these sites to prevent pigeon congregation and instructing maintenance of cleanliness.
In this delicate situation, the BMC is navigating legal, health, and political pressures ahead of the civic elections, with no immediate full reopening after the HC stance. The BMC elections are upcoming and are a significant concern for the BJP MLA due to the community's strong voting power, making the Kabutar Khana issue politically sensitive.
Indian politics is heating up as the BMC elections approach, with the BJP MLA facing pressure from the Jain community over the closure of Kabutar Khanas in Mumbai. The community views pigeon feeding as a religious tradition and threatens to use NOTA votes to pressure the BMC into reopening the Kabutar Khanas. Despite this, the BMC is navigating legal, health, and political pressures, considering a compromise approach that involves controlled and staggered feeding hours at designated locations to ensure public health concerns are addressed. In a recent general news, the Bombay High Court clarified it did not order the closure of kabutar khanas, but emphasized human safety over other concerns, allowing the BMC to block these sites to prevent pigeon congregation and maintain cleanliness. This issue, while politically sensitive, is a critical concern for the upcoming BMC elections in India.
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