In a bid to get the ban by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on pet owners from walking their dogs on Marine Drive withdrawn, residents of the area are creating awareness among dog-owners on cleaning up poop left behind by their pets.

Under regular supervision of BMC officials, residents are now making sure that the 4-km promenade, recently beautified by the BMC at a cost of Rs 26 crore, is kept clean.

In July, the BMC had imposed the ban stating that people did not clean up poop left behind by their dogs. Residents under the banner of Marine Drive Promenade Pet Lovers’ Group have now requested the BMC to withdraw the ban, stating that pet-owners will take up the responsibility of cleaning up.  

Vijay Boolani, a resident of Napean Sea Road who brings his silky terrier Shadow for a walk along the promenade every morning, said, “We are not saying the BMC is wrong in imposing the ban because there are some pet owners who lack civic sense. But why should dogs of the majority of us suffer because of 5-10 per cent pet-owners?”

The group, with about 80 members from Colaba to Prabhadevi, has assured the BMC that they will ensure that citizens clean up any spot spoiled by their dogs. They have already begun distributing pamphlets to dog-walkers. They argue that there is no other place where they can walk their pets and have even employed a person to clean up poop.

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