Jain community members are trying to dismantle BMC coverage installed in Kabutarkhana in Dadar, Mumbai, aimed at limiting pigeon feeding in the public on August 6, 2025 | Photo Credit: PTI
The tension expanded to Dadar’s Kabutarkhan on Wednesday (August 6, 2025) in the morning after a group of protesters, especially from the Jain community, forcibly removed the sheet of the sail located brihanmumbai municipal corporation (BMC) at the point of feeding pigeons, leading to the conflict of police staff.
The sheet cover was built in compliance with BMC with the recent Bombay High Court command, which demanded the closure of pigeon feeding or Kabutarkhanas across Mumbai to concern the risk of public health that represents bird droppings, including respiratory diseases.
Despite the police presence, the demonstrators dismant the bamboo plastic cover and launched a short but tense confrontation with the police. Several women entered the compound zone, climbed the barricade, and tried to cut ropes bound to bamboo using sharp knives and blades, trying to restore pigeons.
“Throughout our lives and my children and their children, these pigeons have now fed them and now fed them. We have never had any health concerns about these pigeons. We want medical evidence to confirm the High Court’s order. None of us took the law, everything we wanted to feed these pigeons.
Another protesters said: “The government can arrange Vantaru for one elephant, but for these living pigeons, the government may be heartless that they limit us to feed them.”
Demonstrators are trying to tear down the sheet cover of the BMC in the Kabutarkhana in Dadar, Mumbai, to grind pigeons 6 August 2025. Photo Credit: PTI
Mumbai has 51 Kabutarkhanas. 3 July, the Maharashtra government ordered the civic body to close all such places of feeding.
The Maharashtra Minister, Employment, Business and Innovation and Co-Guardian Minister of the suburban Mangal Prabhat Lodha district visited the place shortly after the protest and condemned the violent removal of the civic barricade. He said the police would take appropriate steps and added that Jain Temple Trust located near agitation distanced themselves and claimed to be responsible outsider.
“The incident that occurred this morning in Kabutarkhana is extremely unfortunate. It left me desperate. On the question of Kabutarkhan, the main Minister Sri. Devendraj Fadnavis has taken balanced and sensitive decisions.
When he talked to reporters, Mr. Lodha added: “I spoke to Jaina Temple in Dadar, but they denied their participation in the protest and claimed that protesters were outsiders who had organized the protest. The police will make the right decision.
Representative Minister Ajit Pawar said: “At the meeting held with CM, BMC and members of the Jain of Jain of Dadar, several proposals are proposed tomorrow at the High Court. We must come to the common ground.”
On Tuesday, Main Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered the BMC to allow pigeon feeding in a regulated way to avoid starvation of birds. The Minister of Cultural Affairs Maharashtra Ashish Shelar also supported this step and stated that feeding should be allowed under regulated conditions so that the public will not be pleased.
Kabutarkhana in Dadar was covered with BMC after the Maharashtra government directive. | Photo Credit: PTI
Published – August 2025 22:18
