24/04/2017
The SEL office has sent out many notices on the subject but the practice of feeding pigeons not only continues unabated but has actually gone up possibly due to 'if others are doing why not us? mentality.
So, why do people feed pigeons?
In the mistaken belief that they are helping a living being and also in some religions, it may be done to get some favours from the Gods.
Why is it bad?
Pigeons cause severe breathing trouble or trigger asthma for people who may be living in the vicinity of the pigeons. It could be as far as 200 meters- so people living on higher floors are also not immune to the infection. Recently, a lung specialist in Hinduja and Apollo hospital told us that in areas like Dadar Kabootar Khana where feeding pigeons is common, there is very high incidence of asthma. (You can check internet for evidence from across the world, including New York, London, Bangalore. Mumbai etc.. I am attaching 2 links for evidences from India at the end of this mail.)
Secondly, pigeons dirty the building exteriors and surrounding by their p**p. P**p also carry various infections and expose people to various deceases, It is as bad as open defecation. There is large amount of evidence on this too.
These misguided people throw all kinds of eatables: bread crumbs, biscuits, grains etc. from their houses in the mistaken belief that the birds will eat them and God will reward them for their generosity. In the process, they are dirtying the surroundings and are increasing number of unwanted birds in the complex, namely pigeons and crows who may be driving other pleasant birds like parrots, mynas etc.
Lastly, Mumbai High Court has ruled that against feeding pigeons if it causes nuisance to neighbours.
So, what do we tell our mistaken fellow residents.
If you were not aware of the consequence of your action of throwing food items outside, you should now be aware. All of us including SEL office should further help educate these mistaken neighbours about the health and cleanliness hazards of feeding pigeons.
If having known this, you continue to throw food items outside your house, you are not only dirtying the place but also will invite anger of Gods, whom you are trying to seek favours from. God will give you punishment, rather than favours as you are spoiling health of not only yourself but more importantly your neighbours-children, adults and senior citizens'.
So, please show respect for your and your neighbours' health and cleanliness and stop throwing any food items from your house
