Facing stiff opposition from pet-owners and animal lovers on its proposal to ban all pets from the financial capitals most iconic seafront promenade,the Marine Drive,the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will now seek suggestions and opinions from citizens. It has been observed that owners refuse to scoop their pets poop and thus dirty the Marine Drive promenade. We will now ask people to give their suggestions and objections in the matter and only then will we take a decision whether to implement a ban on dog-walking on Marine Drive, said Assistant Municipal Commissioner (A ward) Sunil Dhamne. The civic administration will this week issue a public notice through newspapers. Although the civic bodys cleanliness inspectors,called the Clean Up Marshals,roam the area and routinely fine violators,officials say it is impossible to keep an eye on every dog owner on the 4-km stretch. Banning dogs on Marine Drive is the only option and thats what the notice will state, Dhamne said. Last month,the BMC announced its intent to implement such a ban and immediately faced strong opposition from residents of the plush area as well as dog lovers who say there is no other public place apart from Marine Drive where pets can be walked. According to Dhamne,if the majority of respondents support the move,only then will the promenade be out of bounds for dogs. The opposite footpath,on the landward side,however,will be available for dog-owners to walk their animals. Here too,though,they will have to ensure that any poop is immediately scooped up and carried home. The Cleanliness and Sanitation Bylaws brought into effect in 2006 do not allow animal poop to be thrown into public dustbins,officials point out. Under these regulations,pet owners can be fined Rs 500 for not picking up their animals poop from Mumbais pavements. While the rules are applicable for the entire city,implementation remains a challenge simply due to the scale of the problem. Thats why key cityscapes like the Marine Drive promenade will be prioritized for implementing this particular rule. Marine Drive was recently given a Rs 26-crore makeover by the Mumbai Metropolitan region Development Authority (MMRDA),with wider pavements being added along both sides for the convenience of citizens taking in the sights of one of Mumbais most popular areas. Colaba resident Jerestin Sidhwa,a regular at Marine Drive with her adopted stray,said the move should be opposed. There are few places in the city where one can walk freely with a pet and the promenade was one such space. The ban is a punishment for people like me who do scoop their dogs poop and are responsible citizens, she said. Housewife Kareena Vandrevala,who lives in Girgaum Chowpatty and regularly walks her Labrador along Marine Drive,is also upset. My pet is trained and never poops or even urinates in public. By banning pets at Marine Drive people like me will not be able to take their dogs for a walk at all. This is wrong, she said.
