BMC allows controlled pigeon-feeding at four Mumbai locations; heres all you need to know
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has introduced a two-hour 'controlled pigeon-feeding' plan at four new sites across Mumbai, aiming to balance tradition with public health, pending expert committee findings and High Court directions on long-term feeding regulations.
Mumbai: In an effort to balance long-standing cultural traditions with growing public health concerns, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has introduced a pilot plan allowing "controlled pigeon-feeding” at four new sites across Mumbai.
Under the new arrangement, feeding will be permitted strictly between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM each morning. The decision, announced on Friday, will remain in force until the BMC receives recommendations from an expert committee and further directives from the Bombay High Court.
Four official feeding locations identified
According to the civic body’s notification, the designated pigeon-feeding zones are:
- The vicinity of the Worli Reservoir in G South ward.
- A mangrove patch near Lokhandwala Back Road, next to the Versova Sewage Treatment Plant in Andheri West (K West ward).
- A creek-side spot close to the old Airoli–Mulund check-post, along the Airoli–Mulund Link Road in Mulund East (T ward).
- The grounds of Gorai Maidan in Borivali West (R Central ward).
Each site will be supervised by the Assistant Municipal Commissioner of the respective ward, who will serve as the nodal officer.
The BMC also plans to erect signboards at these spots, alerting citizens to the health hazards linked to pigeon droppings and feathers.
Strict conditions for organisers
The civic body has made it clear that feeding will only be permitted if voluntary organisations take responsibility for managing these locations. These groups will need to:
- Maintain cleanliness in and around the feeding area.
- Ensure that pedestrian and vehicular movement is not obstructed.
- Address complaints from residents about hygiene or nuisance.
- Sign an undertaking to adhere to all prescribed conditions.
Traditional ‘Kabutarkhanas’ to stay shut
The BMC stressed that its new policy does not mean the reopening of the city’s traditional kabutarkhanas, pigeon-feeding shelters that were sealed following court orders. Sites such as the one at Dadar Kabutarkhana will remain closed and covered until further notice.
The corporation revealed that it has received nearly 9,800 responses from citizens, ranging from demands to close or reopen specific sites to complaints about sanitation and public health.
Balancing act between faith and hygiene
The civic authority’s move is seen as a cautious attempt to find a middle ground between religious sentiment and urban health concerns. Pigeon-feeding is deeply rooted in local custom, but experts have long warned of respiratory and hygiene issues caused by dense bird populations and accumulated droppings.
Meanwhile, the High Court-appointed expert committee is expected to submit its findings soon, focusing on the environmental and health impacts of pigeon-feeding. Its report, along with subsequent court and state government directions, will shape the long-term policy for such activities across Mumbai.
In the meantime, the BMC will observe how the four experimental zones operate under the two-hour feeding limit and whether managing organisations comply with civic and health regulations.