BMC covers up Dadar Kabutarkhana once again

“The premises of the kabutarkhana have been covered on the directions given by the High Court (HC), since feeding of pigeons has been banned by authorities.. The structure will remain covered till the court directs us to the next course of action,” a senior civic official told the Indian Express on Monday. Civic sources said that the structure was covered early on Monday to avoid any further clash with citizens. The sources also maintained that the BMC has already written to the Mumbai Police asking them to monitor the area.

Kabutarkhanas are open public spaces where feeding of pigeons is a regular practice, particularly at major junctions in Mumbai. The Dadar Kabutarkhana, 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.

The HC had also asked BMC to install CCTV cameras to monitor “mischievous” feeders, depute beat marshals or civic officers at feeding sites, and use nets to prevent pigeons from congregating. However, the HC’s decision led to a public eruption with members of the Jain community breaking the scaffolding of the Kabutarkhana at Dadar. Following the incident on August 7, the court reiterated its previous order stating that since the BMC had not revoked or diluted its decision, the ban on feeding in public spaces “very much stands”. The court however allowed the petitioners to apply to the BMC if they intended to feed pigeons, and said the civic body should consider the “larger issue of public health” before making its decision.

“We have written to the police department before covering the structure following which barricades were also set up around the Kabutarkhana premises. Meanwhile our officials are keeping a watch at the ward level, where people who are feeding pigeons illegally are being penalised on the spot. The civic body is also considering a proposal to install CCTV cameras around the periphery of Kabutarkhana and other known feeding spots to keep these actions on check,” the official added.

In its last hearing the HC had also directed setting up a committee of experts, and if this committee agreed with the BMC’s decision, the authorities should consider an alternative workable mechanism for the pigeons. Meanwhile civic officials said that the BMC may allow feeding of pigeons in a staggered manner, however this decision will be taken up following consultation with the committee.

The court will hear the Advocate General for Maharashtra and other parties on the setting up of the committee on August 13.