India, July 15 -- Feeding chana or grains to pigeons now comes at the cost of a Rs.500 penalty imposed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after the state government directed the civic body to take strict actions against kabutarkhanas (pigeon feedings spots) across the city. Since July 3, when the issue was brought up in the legislative council, the BMC has collected a total of Rs.55,700 in fines across the city's 24 wards.

Since the crackdown began, the BMC has fined 108 people across 44 kabutarkhanas, and 49 locations in the city for feeding pigeons. Dadar's kabutarkhana in ward G (north) recorded the highest number of cases at 16, leading to a total of Rs.7,700 in fines. Next came ward P (east) in Malad East where Rs.7500 ...