MUMBAI, Aug. 31 -- Friday, the last day to respond to the BMC's call for feedback on pigeon feeding in the city, ended in a tug-of-war between citizens motivated by health concerns and those on the side of religion/animal activism. It is now up to the government-appointed committee to take a decision. "What many perceive as religious activity is a serious public health hazard that the city can no longer afford to ignore," argued Dhaval Shah from Andheri Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association. In response, a change.org petition with over 600 signatures, responded, "Yes, health concerns must be respected, but the answer cannot be cruelty or bans." The anti-pigeon feeding votaries submitted a load of evidence to support their stand. A Juhu group, for instance, listed and backed with academic sources the lung diseases caused by pigeon droppings and feathers: cryptococcosis (fungal lung infection), Bird Fancier's Lung, allergic alveolitis, histoplasmosis, a fungal infection, and urban respiratory distress. These diseases have led to deaths in Andheri, recounted Shah. "For a city already grappling with high air pollution and rising bronchitis cases, this is an invisible ticking time bomb," he wrote. Sailesh Mishra, founder of the Silver Innings Group, wrote, "Senior citizens with comorbidities, pregnant women, and children are especially vulnerable." "Kabutarkhanas only serve to concentrate bird populations, aggravating health, hygiene and safety hazards in Mumbai," wrote Chetan Kamble, founder of the civic group Chakachak Dadar. Even notions of "controlled feeding," which BMC introduced as a middle ground, did not fly. Lawyer Ritesh Karkera wrote, "It cannot control the menace of pigeons; on the contrary, it will normalise the practice of feeding and further aggravate the problem." Civic activist Freya Mistry, co convener of Mumbai North Central District Forum, asked for the feeding zones to be shifted outside residential areas. Kamble too suggested that feeding zones be shifted to designated aviaries in isolated coastal stretches or controlled facilities. Those batting for pigeon feeding in public spaces also went out all guns blazing. Having pasted QR codes linked to a form sending emails at Jain and Hindu temples, Sandeep Doshi, a trustee of the Dadar kabutarkhana, estimated that over 100,000 emails had been sent. "Feeding of the pigeons must be allowed, even if it is for a few hours a day," he said. Sneha Visaria, one of the three petitioners in the high court arguing for pigeon feeding, took another 5,000 letters to the headquarters on Friday, but was allowed to submit only 500. The letters stated, "We have never suffered from any lung or respiratory diseases or any other alignment due to pigeon feeding. On humanitarian grounds, we all animal and bird lovers, we urgently request you to allow partial or controlled feeding as many urban pigeons are dying of starvation and hunger, and in search of food coming on roads leading to accidents and cruel deaths in thousands. We shall ensure the cleanliness is maintained daily at 6pm once pigeons have finished eating." (Sic) A senior health department official told HT, "We are still receiving inputs. Once the department finishes compiling them, we will send our report to the municipal commissioner in two to four days."...