Pigeon holes in all public gardens in Rajasthan

Jaipur, May 1 (UNI) Buckling under widespread protests over using falcons to shoo away pigeons, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has directed that separate arrangements be made in all public gardens in the state to enable people to feed birds.

NGO People For Animals (PFA) representative met Ms Raje at Ajmer, and urged her to protect the innocent birds in state capital's Ram Niwas Bagh on the lines of a 'Mercy towards Animals' campaign launched in Bhilwara, where the birds are fed at specially set up places.

Accepting PFA's demands, Ms Raje ordered that special pigeon holes be created in Ram Niwas Bagh and all other public gardens.

Welcoming Mrs Raje's decision, PFA have decided to withdraw their campaign to protect pigeons.

The controversy erupted when the state government decided to use falcons to scare away pigeons from the under-renovation Albert Hall Museum where pigeon droppings are said to have been destroying the age-old and priceless wall paintings.

The state government had even banned the feeding of pigeons in front of Albert Museum Hall to prevent the congregation of birds there, irking both tourists and residents.

UNI