November 07, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) attempt to regulate pigeon feeding has hit a roadblock, with petitioners rejecting the newly designated feeding zones. A week after the civic body identified four locations for controlled feeding, not a single petitioner or voluntary organisation has come forward to manage them.
The BMC had permitted feeding at Worli reservoir, Lokhandwala Back Road in Andheri, Old Airoli-Mulund Octroi Naka, and Gorai Maidan in Borivli West. Organisations were invited to seek permission and assume responsibility for upkeep, but officials confirmed that no applications have been received so far.
Sneha Visaria, one of the petitioners who approached the Bombay High Court against the feeding ban, said, “We have maintained our stand that BMC should at least allow controlled feeding of pigeons at kabutarkhanas. It is not feasible to travel five to eight kilometres every morning to feed pigeons. These new spots are at inaccessible locations.”
Visaria also noted that petitioners are awaiting BMC’s report on public feedback, which was expected in September. “The report was expected in September, but there has been a delay of two months. The next court hearing is on Dec 11,” she said.
Four petitions have been filed against the ban, including one by a Pune-based organisation and another by the Dadar Temple Trust. Responding to the civic body’s decision, petitioner Hardik Hundiya stated, “Since the matter is in court, we won’t approach the BMC. Temporary arrangements won’t solve the issue.”
In a statement last week, the BMC clarified that the four designated feeding sites are a temporary measure until the expert committee appointed by the Bombay High Court submits its final report. Officials, however, were unavailable for comment on further developments.
Source: Mid-day
