Mumbai authorities have implemented a ban on public pigeon feeding, leading to varying reactions from residents and community groups.
Background on Pigeon Feeding Practices
For approximately four decades, residents of Mumbai, such as Premlata Soni, have engaged in feeding pigeons, often around locations like Bandra Lake. This practice is sometimes linked to religious beliefs within the Hindu faith. Historically, Mumbai had established 51 designated pigeon feeding locations, known as kabutarkhanas.
Implementation of the Ban
In July, the city prohibited pigeon feeding in public spaces. Authorities subsequently covered popular feeding areas with tarpaulin sheets and disseminated information regarding respiratory diseases potentially associated with exposure to pigeon feathers and droppings.
Public and Community Responses
Despite the ban, some residents have continued feeding pigeons. Vikram Kumar, a guard at Bandra Lake, reported instances of non-compliance and conflict.
The Jain community, which considers feeding pigeons a religious obligation based on their scriptures, organized protests against the ban. Demonstrators, including Jains and other bird enthusiasts, dismantled barriers at a kabutarkhana. This action resulted in counter-protests from other local residents.
Pradeep Samant, secretary of the Marathi Ekikaran Samiti, an advocacy group for Marathi-speakers, stated that the pigeon issue served as an entry point for broader cultural disagreements. He attributed the conflict to Jain communities, whom he characterized as migrants, creating exclusive neighborhoods and potentially endangering public health. Puran Doshi, a leader within the Jain community, refuted these allegations, emphasizing the long-standing presence of Jains in Mumbai.
Political Implications
The dispute is anticipated to influence Mumbai's mayoral elections in early 2026, with groups on both sides indicating plans to mobilize voters. In October, a Jain monk announced the community's intention to establish a political party with a pigeon symbol. Following these developments, municipal authorities partially reversed the ban, allowing pigeon feeding in four specific areas of the city.
Expert Perspectives
Ornithological View
Ornithologist Mohammed Dilawar stated that the significant increase in Mumbai's pigeon population is a "human-induced population" resulting from feeding practices, rather than a natural phenomenon. A 2023 survey by Indian birdwatchers estimated a 150% increase in the dominant rock pigeon species over two decades. Dilawar also highlighted the economic costs associated with pigeon droppings, which can damage heritage and commercial structures.
Public Health Concerns
Dr. Sujeet Rajan, a lung specialist in Mumbai, previously testified in a high court that pigeon antigen, a protein present in their droppings, can cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis. This condition, if not detected early, can lead to irreversible lung fibrosis. A 2019 study published in the European Respiratory Journal examined 60 Indian patients diagnosed with hypersensitivity pneumonitis and found that pigeon droppings were implicated in nearly one-third of the cases. Dr. Rajan noted that advanced fibrosis has limited treatment options, often requiring home oxygen or ventilators, with lung transplants being expensive and having variable success rates.
Vaishali Chodnekar, whose husband died from lung damage potentially linked to exposure to nesting pigeons, now operates a foundation focused on early diagnosis and treatment for lung diseases, emphasizing public health over political and religious considerations.
Social Aspect
Individuals like Pinku Kumar Goswami, who migrated to Mumbai and works in recycling, reported finding companionship in feeding pigeons, describing it as a way to feel connected in the city.