With the crackdown on feeding pigeons at kabutarkhanas across Mumbai proving to be a tedious task, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has appointed nuisance detection squads at the kabutarkhana opposite the General Post Office at Fort in South Mumbai. However, an individual claiming to have been contracted by the squad has taken matters into his own hands and started tying firecrackers to bamboo sticks to create loud sounds that scare the birds.

An official from the A Ward’s solid waste management department told mid-day, “If feeding is stopped, they will eventually automatically stop visiting these spots, so we are allowed to only fine citizens feeding them, as per SWM by-laws. Since this has been brought to my notice, this practice of using fire crackers on a stick will be stopped immediately.”

Earlier this month, the Government of Maharashtra directed the BMC to completely stop pigeon feeding in public spaces. In response, the state government instructed the civic body to shut all of them down. As part of the crackdown, the civic body immediately took action by confiscating grains stored at various kabutarkhanas, including those in Dadar, Matunga, and the one adjoining the Kothari Pyau opposite the GPO.