MNS Opposes Relief for Kabootarkhanas, Urges BMC to Prioritise Public Health Over Sentiments

Mumbai, 6 August 2025: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has openly opposed Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha’s recent appeal to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to provide relief and designated spaces for the religious practice of pigeon feeding. Lodha, who also serves as the guardian minister for Mumbai suburban district, had requested the BMC commissioner to consider allowing temporary supervised feeding zones across the city.

However, the MNS has categorically rejected the suggestion, asserting that emotional appeals should not override pressing public health concerns. “Everything cannot be viewed from an emotional lens. Decisions impacting lakhs of Mumbaikars should be made with rationality and scientific backing,” stated MNS Mumbai City President Sandeep Deshpande. The party argued that the spread of diseases linked to pigeon droppings and feathers should not be ignored under religious or cultural pretexts.

This development comes after the BMC, under the directive of the Bombay High Court, took action last Sunday by covering the Dadar kabutarkhana with tarpaulin sheets to prevent mass pigeon feeding. The court had termed the practice a “public nuisance” and instructed the civic body to strictly implement a ban, including the filing of FIRs against violators. While heritage kabutarkhanas were exempt from demolition, feeding at those locations was also prohibited.

MNS has welcomed the civic enforcement and urged the BMC to resist any political pressure to reverse its actions. The party reiterated that maintaining clean and disease-free public spaces must be the administration’s top priority.

On the other hand, Lodha, citing the sight of dead pigeons on roads and concerns over their starvation, suggested forming a committee of experts to devise a long-term solution. His proposal included the possibility of supervised pigeon feeding at locations such as BKC, Racecourse, Aarey Colony, and Sanjay Gandhi National Park.

But the MNS dismissed these concerns, arguing that the focus should instead be on population control of pigeons in urban areas, and not on facilitating their gathering. The party emphasized that uncontrolled pigeon feeding was directly linked to the rise in respiratory illnesses across the city.

It is worth noting that last month, Shiv Sena minister Uday Samant also announced in the Maharashtra Legislative Council that kabutarkhanas would be shut down following similar concerns raised by MLC Manisha Kayande regarding health hazards due to pigeons.

With rising support for the ban from political and civic quarters, the MNS has called upon the BMC to continue strict enforcement of the High Court’s order, safeguarding public health above all.