Ghaziabad society urges residents to stop pigeon feeding, cites health risks

GHAZIABAD: The Apartment Owners Association (AOA) of Skytech Magadh Society in Vaishali’s Sector 3 urged residents to stop feeding pigeons in the open, citing significant health and sanitation concerns. The AOA’s president made the appeal after pigeon nets were installed at a cost of Rs 12,000 to prevent feeding in public spaces.Most residents welcomed the decision, and there was strong community support for the installation of pigeon nets at the society’s back gate.The AOA highlighted that pigeon droppings pose serious health risks, leading to fungal diseases, allergies, and lung infections. This concern has been supported by judgments from the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court, emphasising the dangers associated with pigeon feeding. AOA members said that some residents already suffered from lung issues linked to the presence of pigeons.In addition to health risks, the AOA noted that pigeon droppings caused extensive damage to building paint, balconies, grilles, and vehicles parked in open areas. “Residents expressed frustration over the upkeep costs, as many paid extra for car cleaning services to remove pigeon waste,” said AOA president HD Singh.The AOA further urged the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC) to address the issue of individuals selling bird feed on govt land, which has contributed to the rising number of pigeons in the area, they said. “These sellers need to be removed as they endanger public health for their profit,” said Singh.Despite previous concerns raised by residents of neighbouring areas, including Indirapuram, Vasundhara, Raj Nagar Extension, no action has been taken by authorities.When contacted, Dr Ashish Tripathi, veterinary doctor and welfare officer of GMC, told TOI that currently, there is no policy for stopping public feeding of pigeons in the city. Tripathi said that only once a policy against public feeding of pigeons is approved by the GMC board can it be implemented and enforced.The doctor cautioned against health hazards from pigeon droppings, such as chlamydiosis, also known as psittacosis or ornithosis, which is a bacterial zoonotic disease. It is primarily transmitted to humans through the inhalation of dust from dried pigeon droppings or respiratory secretions of infected birds, with pigeons being a common source. The disease causes flu-like symptoms, including fever and cough, and can lead to pneumonia.“Vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, young children, and immunocompromised individuals, are at a higher risk for more severe illness. Other issues include respiratory issues, etc,” Dr Tripathi said.In Noida, too, residents say the practice of feeding pigeons in public is rampant, with Dalit Prerna Sthal near Cleo County Society, Sector 121, residential markets, etc, being identified as prime feeding spots