New Delhi: They may seem harmless fluttering over rooftops, but Delhi pigeons now dubbed ‘rats from the sky’ have become a serious cause for concern. Their growing population and disease-ridden droppings are prompting urgent warnings from health authorities and environmental tribunals.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has raised red flags over the unchecked rise in pigeon numbers warning that their droppings are not just messy but a genuine public health threat. A directive has been issued to the veterinary department to curb the bird boom, citing an increase in respiratory illnesses tied to pigeon-infested areas.
This action follows a National Green Tribunal (NGT) notice served to the Delhi government in June after a school student filed a petition flagging the hazards of pigeon droppings in public spaces. Experts say the issue is more serious than just unsightly mess pigeon excreta are acidic and linked to several respiratory diseases, including psittacosis, cryptococcosis, pneumonitis, and infections caused by salmonella and E. coli.
Despite repeated warnings people continue to feed pigeons in public areas driven by religious beliefs or habits, unwittingly encouraging a population surge. Each pigeon can produce up to 12 kilograms of droppings annually a fact that worries urban planners and conservationists alike.
Not only do the droppings pose a health risk, but their acidic nature damages buildings and public infrastructure leaving blackened patches and corroded facades in their wake.
The MCD public health department has called for urgent intervention, especially in sensitive zones like hospitals schools and residential complexes, where vulnerable populations are at higher risk.
Officials say awareness must be built around the health risks of pigeon feeding, and public cooperation will be essential in any future bird control programme. As the capital grapples with worsening air quality and heat waves, the rising pigeon menace is now one more challenge hovering over the city quite literally.