Jain monk Nilesh Chandra Vijay together with supporters throughout a starvation strike in opposition to the pigeon feeding ban, in Mumbai, on November 3, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI
The leaders instructed him that each one points and calls for can be mentioned with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and “applicable motion will probably be taken”.
Mr. Lodha mentioned, “I requested him to finish the protest as this authorities is for the Jain neighborhood additionally and can at all times do good for the society. Many organisations are working in opposition to the federal government, and Muniji needs to be the protector. We have to attend for the Bombay HC to decide. However, the matter will probably be mentioned with CM.”
“The function of this quick was to awaken the conscience of the Government and civic authorities in direction of the safety of temples, animals, birds, and the surroundings, which right this moment face neglect, misinformation, and cruelty,” the monk Nileshchandra Vijay mentioned earlier than ending the quick, including that the BMC’s prompt 4 spots are only a “lollipop” to appease the Jain neighborhood.
After the Bombay HC order, the BMC just lately allowed managed feeding of pigeons at 4 places — Worli Reservoir, the mangrove space on Lokhandwala Back Road in Andheri West, the Airoli-Mulund examine submit space, and Gorai floor in Borivali West.
The timings will probably be between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., with duty of non-governmental organisations to handle the websites.
Jain monks didn’t approve of those alternate websites, as these are so far as 4, 5 and even 9 kilometres away. “Will a pigeon fly to date? Their flying radius is inside 1 or 2 km of the prevailing Kabutarkhana,” monk Nileshchandra mentioned.
The different calls for embody, publication of any present authorities or municipal coverage banning pigeon or fowl feeding or concern fast clarification that feeding isn’t prohibited, common sanitation programme at feeding areas by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), fast medical and veterinary consideration for injured or dehydrated stray animals, and birds, safety of cow and all milch and cattle, and declaration of all historical temples and sanctuaries as Heritage Sites.
The concern of human deaths as a consequence of publicity to pigeon droppings surfaced in July, with the Bombay HC directing BMC to shut down Dadar Kabutarkhana, a pigeon feeding spot. The concern was first raised by Shiv Sena chief Manisha Kayande within the Maharashtra legislative council on July 3. Later, on opposition from the Jain neighborhood, the Bombay HC fashioned an knowledgeable committee to seek out options. To which BMC got here up with a managed feeding resolution. However, the representatives of the Jain neighborhood expressed dissatisfaction and mentioned, “they haven’t any belief within the committee”.
“BMC claims 65% of droppings and feathers are a well being hazard. Prove first that that is due to pigeons. BMC to provide the information from the place they acquired this report. BMC desires to return with the poultry home, which is probably the most hazardous supply of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Those automobiles go across the metropolis; they don’t wish to cease. We have RTI report, the place the federal government hospital replied that out of 52000 circumstances, solely two are uncovered to pigeons,” mentioned Sneha Visaria, one of many petitioners within the case.
Published – November 04, 2025 06:55 am IST








