Civic officials in the Indian city of Mumbai have banned feeding pigeons in the city's posh Marine Drive area. Any violation of the ban will fetch a fine of 500 rupees ($11).

The ban came into effect last week, after civic officials circulated handbills with the warning: "Bird feeding is prohibited in public places."

At least 20 violators have been fined over the weekend, Vijay Balamwar, Mumbai's assistant municipal commissioner, told the AP.

The measure is an attempt by the city authorities to keep the country's financial and entertainment capital clean and disease-free.

"We want to beautify and clean up the promenade, but we can't do that with bird droppings everywhere," said Balamwar.

Mumbai's Marine Drive is best known for its seaside location, high-rise buildings and pigeons a plus. However, the residents have also backed the recent move. <

"Pigeon droppings cause lung problems," Chandresh Shah, a member of the Marine Drive Residents' Association, was quoted as saying in Mumbai's DNA newspaper.

"People who come here just to feed pigeons don't realize the trouble it causes to those who suffer from asthma," he said.