Wed Nov 19 22:49:08 UTC 2025: News Article:

Mumbai Advocate Challenges Pigeon Feeding Site, Citing Health and Safety Risks

Mumbai, November 20, 2025 – A Mumbai-based advocate has filed a petition with the Bombay High Court challenging the city’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) decision to allow controlled pigeon feeding at the Airoli-Mulund creekside, among other locations. Advocate Sagar Kantilal Devre, a social activist, argues the site poses significant health, safety, and environmental risks.

The petition, filed on Wednesday, comes amidst existing legal challenges to pigeon feeding in public spaces. The High Court previously upheld a BMC ban on feeding at traditional “Kabutarkhanas,” citing medical evidence linking pigeon droppings and feathers to severe respiratory illnesses. The Supreme Court refused to overturn the ban in August.

In response to public pressure, the BMC announced controlled feeding at designated sites, including the Airoli-Mulund creekside, overseen by NGOs, pending a report from an expert committee. However, Devre’s petition argues the Airoli-Mulund location is “highly unsuitable,” citing traffic congestion, unsanitary conditions, potential accidents due to flocks of pigeons near a busy road, and ecological disruption of mangrove habitats, potentially harming migratory birds like flamingos.

The petition also reiterates concerns about respiratory illnesses caused by fungal spores and allergens in pigeon droppings, particularly affecting vulnerable populations like children, seniors, and those with compromised immune systems. Infrastructure corrosion and blocked drains are also cited as potential environmental hazards.

The High Court had previously established a 13-member expert committee comprised of medical and environmental experts to assess the health impacts of pigeon feeding and propose long-term solutions. The committee’s report is still pending.

Devre is urging the court to allow his intervention and direct the BMC to reconsider the Airoli-Mulund designation as a feeding location.

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