The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has fined 142 individuals across the city for feeding pigeons, collecting a total of INR 68,700 until Sunday, August 3. This comes after the Bombay High Court (HC) ordered the civic body to take strict action against public pigeon feeding, citing health hazards.
The Dadar Kabutarkhana recorded the highest number of violations. A total of 51 people were fined there, contributing INR 22,200. This is 32% of the overall amount. On Monday afternoon, a group of people, mostly women, gathered at the Dadar site to express their support for continued pigeon feeding.
The situation at the GPO Kabutarkhana near CSMT was quieter. Only a few pigeons were seen looking for grains on Monday night. The feeding area was empty. Eight people were fined INR 4,000 in this location.
At Dadar, the adjacent Jain temple provided water for the birds. A plastic sheet placed over the site and the presence of BMC staff prevented grain tossing. Despite this, feeders were seen worshipping the pigeons.
After Dadar, H West ward collected the second-highest amount. INR 7,500 was collected from 15 people near the Bandra Talao kabutarkhana. T Ward collected INR 6,500 from 13 violators. P East gathered INR 6,000 from five locations in Malad East. P South fined 11 people INR 5,500 in Goregaon West.
Sources suggest that around 980 pigeons had died at the site. Last Monday, the Bombay HC ordered the BMC to file complaints against those feeding pigeons. Justices Girish Kulkarni and Arif Doctor said the actions of feeders posed a risk to public health and violated the rule of law. The court had earlier denied any interim relief to pigeon feeders.
The BMC said it acted as per the affidavit submitted in court. The affidavit stated that pigeon droppings cause serious respiratory illnesses, including hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). It also noted that unregulated feeding had increased the city’s pigeon population and led to more cases of respiratory problems.
Furthermore, the Jain community has warned that it will launch a peaceful protest if the court verdict does not go in its favour. The protest plan includes a peace rally on August 10 and an indefinite hunger strike. The next hearing is scheduled for August 7. The court will review enforcement reports from the BMC and police, as well as medical records from KEM Hospital.
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