The Ambala Railway Division is determined to shoo away birds from the Chandigarh Railway Station. A senior official said, “We will definitely ask them what kind of gadgets they are going to put and what rays they would emit. We would ensure that the rays are not harmful to the birds.”

R.K. Dutta, Station Superintendent, Chandigarh Railway Station, said, “There are lot of mynahs and sparrows staying at the station, particularly on Platform 1.”

Divisional Railway Manager H.K. Jaggi said, “We want to get rid of the problem of bird chirping and droppings to make travel better.”

About implementation, he said, “Some devices are available in the market. Last week, someone came here and gave us the demonstration. These devices emit ultrasonic waves, which irritates them and so keep them away. Though these devices have not been evaluated and no final decision taken yet.”

About preferred stations, he said that not just Chandigarh but the devices could be put up at Ambala too. He said they had earlier used certain chemical and wire meshes at the places where the birds sit, but that failed to shoo them away.

Though lot of travellers echoed that too many mynahs is problem at a station, but one dissenting voice, Pritika told Hindustan Times, “It would not be wise. It could have disastrous affect on the birds, who have their nests at our station.”

The Forest Department has said that it would intervene i the devices are feared to prove harmful to the birds. Narbir Singh of Avian Habitat and Wetland Society (AHWS) said, "Mynahs are not endangered species. They have adapt ed well in this region and are fast breeders. Ultrasound waves may not be harmful to them physically but can affect their hearing, as birds are quite sensitive to various kinds of vibrations. If you shoo them away they will settle in nearby areas." He said there are four kinds of mynahs, Common Mynah Bank Mynah, Jungle Mynah and Brahmni Mynah

Source: Hindustan Times : July 14, 2009