Jain monk Nilesh Chandra Vijay together with supporters throughout a starvation strike towards the pigeon feeding ban, in Mumbai, on November 3, 2025. | Picture Credit score: PTI
Jain monk Nileshchandra Vijay, who started an indefinite starvation strike on Monday (November 3, 2025) at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, demanding the restoration of Dadar pigeon shelter (Kabutarkhana) and different calls for, ended the protest after Cupboard Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Meeting Speaker Rahul Narwekar assured a dialogue on options inside 15 days.
The leaders informed him that every one points and calls for could be mentioned with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and “applicable motion will likely be taken”.
Mr. Lodha mentioned, “I requested him to finish the protest as this authorities is for the Jain group additionally and can at all times do good for the society. Many organizations are working towards the federal government, and Muniji needs to be the protector. We now have to attend for the Bombay HC to decide. Nonetheless, the matter will likely be mentioned with CM.”
“The aim of this quick was to awaken the conscience of the Authorities and civic authorities in the direction of the safety of temples, animals, birds, and the setting, which right this moment face neglect, misinformation, and cruelty,” the monk Nileshchandra Vijay mentioned earlier than ending the quick, including that the BMC’s urged 4 spots are only a “lollipop” to appease the Jain group.
After the Bombay HC order, the BMC not too long ago allowed managed feeding of pigeons at 4 places — Worli Reservoir, the mangrove space on Lokhandwala Again Highway in Andheri West, the Airoli-Mulund test put up space, and Gorai floor in Borivali West.
The timings will likely be between 7 am and 9 am, with duty of non-governmental organizations to handle the websites.
Jain monks didn’t approve of those alternate websites, as these are so far as 4, 5 and even 9 kilometers away. “Will a pigeon fly to date? Their flying radius is inside 1 or 2 km of the present Kabutarkhana,” monk Nileshchandra mentioned.
The opposite calls for embrace, publication of any current authorities or municipal coverage banning pigeon or fowl feeding or difficulty fast clarification that feeding just isn’t prohibited, common sanitation program at feeding areas by Brihanmumbai Municipal Company (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 historic temples and sanctuaries as Heritage Websites.
The problem of human deaths on account of publicity to pigeon droppings surfaced in July, with the Bombay HC directing BMC to shut down Dadar Kabutarkhana, a pigeon feeding spot. The problem was first raised by Shiv Sena chief Manisha Kayande within the Maharashtra legislative council on July 3. Later, on opposition from the Jain group, the Bombay HC shaped an knowledgeable committee to seek out alternate options. To which BMC got here up with a managed feeding answer. Nonetheless, the representatives of the Jain group expressed dissatisfaction and mentioned, “they don’t have any belief within the committee”.
“BMC claims 65% of droppings and feathers are a well being hazard. Show first that that is due to pigeons. BMC to supply the info from the place they acquired this report. BMC desires to return with the poultry home, which is essentially the most hazardous supply of sensitization pneumonitis. These automobiles go across the metropolis; they do not wish to cease. We now have RTI report, the place the federal government hospital replied that out of 52000 instances, solely two are uncovered to pigeons,” mentioned Sneha Visaria, one of many petitioners within the case.
Printed – November 04, 2025 06:55 am IST