Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has designated four low-density zones in Mumbai for controlled pigeon feeding between 7 am and 9 am daily. The decision follows the Bombay High Court’s directive to curb unregulated feeding in public spaces, which had raised concerns about hygiene and respiratory ailments caused by bird droppings.
According to BMC officials, pigeon feeding will now be permitted only at the Worli reservoir mangrove zone, Lokhandwala backroad near the sewage treatment plant (STP), the creek area near Airoli-Mulund, and Gorai Maidan in Borivali (West). These sites were selected for their low human activity to minimise direct interaction between birds and the public. Officials clarified that food items other than grains will not be allowed and NGOs engaged in animal welfare will manage on-ground coordination to maintain cleanliness and ensure pedestrian safety. This regulatory framework emerged after sustained dialogue between civic authorities and community representatives. Earlier this week, a delegation from the Jain community — which considers pigeon feeding an act of compassion — met the civic commissioner seeking alternative feeding spaces following the closure of traditional Kabutarkhanas such as the Dadar facility. The BMC, responding to these concerns, also received nearly 9,800 suggestions and objections from citizens before finalising the sites.
Assistant municipal commissioners have been appointed as nodal officers for each feeding location. Signboards citing the health and environmental hazards of open feeding will be installed to educate citizens. “The idea is not to ban the practice but to ensure that it takes place in a manner that protects both human health and urban biodiversity,” said a senior civic official. The High Court’s July 30 order had instructed the civic body to act against “illegal” pigeon feeding, citing rising instances of fungal infections such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis linked to pigeon droppings. The Dadar Kabutarkhana — built in 1933 and long managed by a community trust — was among the sites sealed with scaffolding to prevent access. While this action drew protests from faith-based groups, civic officials maintain that the restrictions were necessary to safeguard public health in crowded localities.
Experts suggest that the BMC’s move represents a step towards evidence-based urban wildlife management. Designated feeding zones, they say, could help control pigeon populations while reducing disease transmission risks and maintaining ecological balance. If managed effectively, Mumbai’s model could guide other Indian cities grappling with similar conflicts between cultural practices and sustainable public health management.
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