Pigeon faeces poses health risk; MCD calls for checks

Once welcomed as symbols of peace and spiritual offerings, pigeons in Delhi have now turned into an urban menace. A surge in their population—fuelled by unchecked public feeding and grain vendors around traffic islands—is prompting civic authorities to sound the alarm, citing serious health and environmental risks posed by their droppings.

- Paras Singh

In a letter dated July 8, the public health department of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) urged the veterinary department to step in and help curb the unchecked pigeon boom. The communication, written by the additional municipal health officer, follows concerns raised during the MCD standing committee meeting on June 27 over the growing nuisance and potential disease threats posed by bird droppings.

"It is pertinent to mention that there is no data available to quantify disease due to pigeons in Delhi, however due to increased pigeon population and also squatters and hawkers selling food grains to the public to feed pigeons, the activity has to be regulated," the letter states. It called on the veterinary department to examine the matter and explore options to manage both the pigeon population and the mushrooming of feeding spots across the city.