MUMBAI, July 4 -- The state government has directed the BMC to take strict action against unauthorised kabootar khanas across the city, following concerns that these pigeon feeding zones pose serious health risks and encroach on public spaces. The issue was raised in the legislative council on Thursday by Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Manisha Kayande, who said illegal kabootar khanas had mushroomed across Mumbai, converting footpaths into pigeon shelters and causing respiratory ailments among residents. "In Mahim, one such feeding spot was set up illegally on Lady Jamshedji Road. In Dadar West, there's a kabootar khana right on a Grade II heritage structure. It's illegal, and people living nearby have protested due to health issues," Kayande said. She suggested the civic body instead develop a Miyawaki garden at the Dadar site. Citing medical research, Kayande pointed out that pigeon droppings and feathers can trigger serious respiratory conditions. "The Indian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology has documented how pigeon excreta can infiltrate the respiratory system and cause chronic ailments," she said. Urban development minister Uday Samant responded that the BMC currently recognises 51 kabootar khanas in Mumbai. "We've asked the civic body to initiate action and launch an awareness campaign. In one case, BMC officials found pigeons being fed pizza and burgers," he said....