New Delhi: In a significant move addressing long-standing public health concerns, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has finally initiated a stringent crackdown against pigeon-feeding points across the national capital. This action comes more than six months after elected councillors first raised alarms about the growing nuisance and potential health hazards associated with uncontrolled pigeon feeding in public spaces.
Enforcement Drive Commences with Multiple Challans
On February 2, the sanitation department of MCD took decisive action by issuing twenty challans in the central and Najafgarh zones specifically targeting nuisance and unhygienic conditions created by pigeon feeding activities. The civic authority has officially ordered an immediate cessation of all pigeon feeding at public places throughout Delhi, marking a clear policy shift toward stricter regulation.
Affected Locations Across Key Zones
The enforcement drive has already covered multiple prominent areas where challans were formally issued. In the Central zone, these locations included:
- A spot near Nehru Apartment
- Defence Colony
- Lajpat Nagar
- BRT Road near Defence Colony
- Mundka Industrial Area
- Areas near Ansal Plaza
Meanwhile, in the Najafgarh zone, the crackdown extended to:
- Dwarka Sector 11
- Dwarka Sector 13
- Dwarka Sector 23
- Raja Puri locality
Legal Framework and Penal Provisions
According to the official challan notices served to offenders, feeding pigeons in public spaces constitutes a punishable offence under specific municipal regulations. The legal basis includes Schedule II of the Solid Waste Management Bylaws, 2017, along with Rules 15(e), (f), and (zf) of the SWM Rules, 2016. These provisions explicitly prohibit such activities on roads, roundabouts, and master plan land throughout Delhi.
The challan documentation clearly states: "After informing the offence committee, the offender is liable to pay an on-the-spot fine of Rs 500 to compound the offence." This standardized penalty structure establishes a clear deterrent against continued violations of the pigeon feeding ban.
Expansion Plans and Historical Context
Municipal officials have confirmed that this enforcement drive is expected to expand systematically to other administrative zones across Delhi in the coming weeks. The issue originally gained official attention in June 2025 when a councillor highlighted the increasing public nuisance caused by pigeon feeding during a standing committee meeting. This prompted MCD's health department to formally communicate with the veterinary department, expressing specific concerns that pigeon droppings could potentially transmit various diseases to the human population.
Health Concerns and Regulatory Challenges
While acknowledging that "there is no concrete data quantifying diseases caused by pigeons in Delhi," municipal officials emphasized that multiple factors necessitated regulatory intervention. These include the rapidly increasing pigeon population throughout the city, combined with the persistent presence of squatters and hawkers who specifically sell foodgrains for pigeon feeding purposes.
The veterinary department was subsequently tasked with examining possible measures to control the burgeoning pigeon population. However, the initiative faced substantial bureaucratic delays due to jurisdictional ambiguities and departmental disagreements. The veterinary department explicitly stated that it lacked the legal mandate to act, arguing that pigeons are not classified as community animals under existing regulations. In their formal response, the department clarified: "Controlling pigeons is not part of our mandate," creating a regulatory impasse that took months to resolve through inter-departmental coordination.
This comprehensive crackdown represents a significant step in Delhi's ongoing efforts to balance urban wildlife management with public health priorities and civic cleanliness standards. The enforcement actions demonstrate municipal authorities' renewed commitment to addressing long-ignored public health concerns through systematic regulatory measures and consistent implementation across the capital's diverse neighborhoods.
