New Delhi: New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has informed National Green Tribunal (NGT) that it has started issuing challans against individuals for creating “insanitary conditions” by feeding pigeons in the open.Seventy-six challans have been issued since Jan this year. Regular clean-up drives are being conducted at spots where people generally feed pigeons.NGT is hearing a plea filed by a school student, Armaan Palliwal, claiming that feeding and proliferation of pigeons lead to their droppings covering many footpaths and traffic islands in Delhi-NCR. The petition states that when these stretches are broomed, toxic particles of dried droppings mixed with dust pollute the environment and cause adverse health effects in the form of serious lung diseases, such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, which causes scarring of the lungs and breathing difficulties.In December 2024, TOI reported that Armaan’s petition, filed through his legal guardian, cited another TOI report titled ‘Feathered foes: How pigeons can leave you gasping for air.’The plea also urged the removal of all illegal vendors selling grains used as bird feed.In May last year, NGT sought action taken reports from agencies, including NDMC.In a report dated April 9 this year, which was shared on Sunday, NDMC said, “A survey was carried out by sanitation supervisory staff to identify pigeon-feeding points and directions were issued to regularly challan those creating the insanitary conditions. Moreover, daily cleaning of pigeon-feeding points is being undertaken by the public health department (of NDMC) on a regular basis.”Twenty-three challans were issued in Jan, 14 in Feb and 39 in March this year.The NDMC also stated that to crack down on those feeding monkeys in public places in the city, four challans were issued against people feeding them and causing littering. “Nukkad dramas (street plays) are being held to create awareness regarding proper disposal of garbage and the harmful effects of feeding monkeys,” the report stated, adding that the civic body has deployed authorized monkey catchers and placed cut-outs of langurs in the open to ward off monkeys.
