Animal welfare activists and animal lovers from across the city will join at Daulat Nagar kabutar khana in Santacruz (W) on Sunday to feed pigeons as a mark of protest against the civic body’s crackdown against feeding of pigeons.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has undertaken a drive to stop pigeon feeding at kabutar khanas across the city after the state government directed the civic body to immediately shut down pigeon feeding points across the city. Starting with a drive to clear encroachments and demolish a small part of the Dadar Kabutar Khana, the civic body has now started imposing fines on feeders.
On July 4, The Free Press Journal had reported that animal welfare activists warned of large scale protests if the civic body continued its crackdown against pigeon feeding. As BMC has not escalated its actions against the pigeon feeding, animal activists have announced to protest against the civic body by feeding pigeons in large numbers.
Pure Animal Lovers (PAL) Foundation has announced a silent march at Daulat Nagar kabutar khana in Santacruz (W) on Sunday to feed the pigeons. According to the non-governmental organisation, more than 500 animal lovers and activists are expected to participate in the feeding protest that is scheduled to be held from 3pm to 5pm. Members from the Jain community are also expected to participate in huge numbers.
Roshan Pathak, animal rights advisor at PAL Foundation, said, “BMC’s crackdown against pigeon feeding is without any plan or scientific evidence. The imposition of fines against feeders is also unlawful. The innocent birds are dying due to this and the civic body is solely responsible for it. We have been visiting various kabutar khanas daily to feed the pigeons as it is our fundamental right, obtained from the constitution.”
