On Thursday, the Bombay High Court expressed serious concern over public health risks posed by pigeon houses in Mumbai. The court directed Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) hospitals to submit data on respiratory illnesses, particularly those potentially caused by exposure to pigeon droppings, to assess the impact on citizens' health.
A bench comprising Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice Arif Doctor clarified that the BMC's campaign to close down pigeon houses aims to safeguard public health especially that of children and senior citizens and should not be viewed as politically motivated. The court noted that pigeons near dovecotes were contributing to significant public health and social problems.
The court sought medical opinion from Dr. Sujit Rajan of Bombay Hospital, who had previously testified in a 2018 case about the dangers of pigeon droppings. Additionally, both government and private hospitals were ordered to provide data on patients treated for respiratory illnesses related to pigeon exposure. While not classified as an epidemic, the court remarked that the situation could resemble one.
The court also took note of a petition filed by Anant Pai, citing the case of a senior lawyer who died after contracting a lung disease allegedly linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings. The court emphasised that this case underscores the real health risks posed by pigeon houses.
Furthermore, the court expressed displeasure over reports that municipal workers were using firecrackers to scare pigeons and ordered an immediate halt to such practices.
Pigeon houses across Mumbai, including one in Dadar, have drawn scrutiny due to their potential health risks. Following concerns raised in the Legislative Council, the BMC began a campaign on July 3 to close and demolish these structures. In response, bird lovers Pallavi Patil, Sneha Visariya, and Savita Mahajan filed a petition in the High Court, challenging the BMC's actions and claiming they were taken without proper legal authority.
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Despite the ongoing legal challenge, the court has maintained an interim stay on the demolition campaign until the next hearing.
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