Bengaluru: If you’ve been feeding pigeons outside your apartment, on your terrace or at a neighbourhood park, you may no longer be able to do so.The health dept has issued a new circular on public pigeon feeding along with detailed operations bylaws to civic bodies on how the feeding should be regulated. The circular, issued on Thursday, directs the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and other municipal corporations to permit pigeon feeding only at designated locations managed by authorised NGOs and only during specified hours.Under the new guidelines issued by health commissioner Gurudatta Hegde, feeding pigeons will be allowed only between 7 am and 9 am at designated feeding zones identified by local authorities.The bylaws state that designated pigeon-feeding sites must be entrusted to NGOs or charitable organisations, which will be responsible not just for managing feeding activities but also for maintaining hygiene and public safety. These organisations must ensure the daily removal and scientific disposal of pigeon droppings, feathers and leftover feed, prevent overcrowding of pigeons, and keep the premises clean and sanitised. They are also required to install signboards displaying feeding timings, permitted feed, health advisories and contact details, maintain records of cleaning and inspections, address public complaints promptly, and submit periodic reports to the local authority.For residents, the circular means pigeon feeding should no longer take place on roads, footpaths, medians, apartment terraces, balconies or rooftops if it creates a nuisance or poses a health risk. Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) have also been asked to discourage mass pigeon feeding in residential areas.The department has also prohibited the use of cooked food, bread and food waste for feeding pigeons. Only approved grains or feed may be used at authorised feeding sites. The bylaws also prohibit setting up designated pigeon-feeding areas near airports, citing the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) wildlife hazard management guidelines, as large congregations of birds increase the risk of bird strikes.The circular also directs civic bodies to launch public awareness campaigns, install signboards explaining the health risks associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, and monitor compliance. It notes that dried pigeon droppings and feathers can release airborne particles associated with respiratory conditions such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases, particularly affecting children, the elderly and people with pre-existing respiratory illnesses.The bylaws follow an earlier Health Department order issued in December 2025 to regulate rampant pigeon feeding and direct urban local bodies to create designated feeding zones instead of allowing indiscriminate feeding in public places.“There was some confusion about which department should issue the bylaws — Health or Urban Development. It has now been resolved, and the bylaws have been issued to ensure effective implementation of the earlier order,” a senior Health Department official said.Key rules at a glanceFeeding hours: 7 am–9 am onlyAllowed only at: Designated feeding zonesPermitted feed: Grains only; no bread or cooked foodManaged by: Authorised NGOs/charitable trustsNot allowed: Near airports, roads, terraces or balconies
