Mumbai: Many Bollywood movies have famously opened with pigeons feeding at the iconic Gateway of India, a sight now likely to disappear following a recent
ban on the activity. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started covering Kabutarkhanas (special spots for feeding pigeons) with large tarpaulin sheets following a recent High Court order, said media reports. This triggered a massive protest by people from Jain Community, with one of their leader - Nareshchandra Ji Maharaj - announcing a fast unto death on August 10 in order to demand the resumption of feeding of pigeons. He said, "Hundreds of pigeons have died of starvation in Mumbai in the past few days because the state authorities have forcibly stopped animal lovers from feeding the birds. Dadar Kabutarkhana and other feeding sites have been sealed by BMC. We oppose this cruel ban on pigeon feeding," reported TOI. Meanwhile, Activist Sneha Visaria of Just Smile Charitable Trust said: "It is heartbreaking to see how over 50,000 pigeons have died on the streets and atop terraces because people have been stopped from feeding them...Hence this feeding ban is wrong and unethical." These feeding places are part of a tradition followed mainly by the Jain and Gujarati communities, who believe feeding pigeons brings good luck and blessings. Recently, the Bombay High Court ordered the Mumbai civic body (BMC) to stop people from feeding pigeons at public and heritage sites, reported India Today. Also Read: Mumbai: Old Building Collapses in Byculla Days After Evacuation; No Casualty Reported - VIDEO For years, no one enforced the ban strictly. But on August 3, the Mumbai Police registered the first case against someone feeding pigeons in public. The issue has also become political. A Maharashtra minister has asked the municipal commissioner to look into whether feeding pigeons really causes the health problems. He suggested forming a panel to find better solutions. Experts say the health risks come from dried pigeon droppings, which carry fungi and viruses that can cause serious lung diseases and infections. Pigeons also create problems by dirtying public places and damaging heritage buildings. Their acidic droppings can ruin old stones, increasing repair costs.
