Mumbai civic body allows limited pigeon feeding at four new city spots, keeps 51 kabutarkhanas shut

The Bombay HC upheld the public health ban on pigeon feeding in August this year. PIC/ATUL KAMBLE

Continuing its ban on pigeon feeding at 51 kabutarkhanas in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday announced that controlled feeding of pigeons - only for two hours between 7 am and 9 am - will be allowed at four new locations across the city. While maintaining that all existing kabutarkhanas will remain closed, each zone in Mumbai has been allotted one new pigeon feeding area. These are:

>> Worli reservoir in South Mumbai located in the G North ward
>> Lokhandwala Back Road, Andheri, in the western suburbs
>> Old Airoli-Mulund Octroi Naka, Mulund, in the eastern suburb
>> Gorai Maidan, Borivli West, in the western suburb

Laying down the guidelines for controlled feeding, the civic body stated that organisations will have to come forward and apply to the BMC for permission to feed pigeons at these four locations and take responsibility for their maintenance.

BMC also laid down terms and conditions, such as that the traffic or residential areas should not be affected in these four locations and that the new locations should be kept clean by the concerned organisations, and a plaque should also be put up to create awareness about public health and safety. Further, it said the feeding cannot take place beyond the designated hours, between 7 am and 9 am.

The BMC, meanwhile, reported that it had received 9779 citizen complaints, objections, and suggestions about the kabutarkhanas. This includes all aspects, such as requests for closing, keeping them open, maintaining cleanliness, and providing pigeons with food in a controlled manner. In a statement issued on Friday, BMC said this provision will serve as an ‘interim decision' till the expert committee appointed by the Bombay High Court submits its detailed report.

"It is being clarified that BMC has granted permission for these four new sites as an interim measure, pending the report of the expert committee on Kabutarkhanas and the order of the Hon'ble Court," the civic body stated. The Bombay High Court had, in August this year, upheld a ban on unregulated pigeon feeding at Mumbai's heritage kabutarkhanas, citing public health concerns.