A day after the BMC announced its plan of banning dogs on Marine Drive promenade if their owners do not scoop the poop of their pets, dog lovers have slammed the idea saying the civic body should first install dustbins there.

The BMC has, however, said that owners cannot dispose the poop in public dustbins. “The cleanliness bylaws do not allow poop to be thrown in public dustbins. Owners will have to carry the poop home and dispose it in their toilets,” said R A Rajeev, additional municipal commissioner (city) and in charge of solid waste management.

Stating that the pets’ pooping habits on the Marine Drive promenade is creating nuisance for joggers and revellers besides giving it an unclean look, the BMC has proposed to ban pets on the 4-km stretch of Marine Drive. It will give a month’s warning to the owners and if still there is no change, the civic squads will take the pets away. The BMC’s cleanliness and sanitation bylaws have a provision of imposing a fine of Rs 500 on the erring owners.

Marine Drive, considered the picture postcard landmark of the city, was recently beautified at the cost of Rs 26 crore by MMRDA.

Though dog lovers support BMC’s intentions in the plan, they said there should be favourable condition before the rule is implemented. “There are very few places in the city where one can take pets for a walk. The BMC should place dustbins on the promenade so that we can clean up the poop and dispose it,” said Abodh Aras, director, Welfare of Stray Dogs.

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