Cleanup marshals to monitor dog poop

In a move that could prove to be controversial, the BMC has now appointed clean up marshals at Marine drive, exclusively to watch out for the poop of people’s pet. While the civic body had withdrawn these marshals from tourist places in South Mumbai, “as they scared unaware tourists,” it has now reappointed them to rein in pooping pets.

Assistant municipal commissioner of the A ward, Kiran Dighavkar said, “We have appointed clean up marshals at Marine Drive only to keep vigil over people who walk their pets there. The owners will be fined Rs 500 if their pets poop on Marine Drive and they fail to clean it up. However, the marshals will not fine people who litter.”

The decision was taken after some residents of the A ward, especially those who live at Marine Drive complained it had become difficult to jog at Marine Drive owing to dog poop.

Clean-up marshals were originally introduced to keep vigil on citizens who litter public places.

Recently, the civic body decided to indefinitely withdraw them from tourist places in South Mumbai, after it received a letter from the police citing rampant complaints of harassment by these marshals registered by tourists unaware of the rules.

Activist Shailesh Gandhi said, “The BMC can put up sign boards for creating awareness, if they think marshals scare away ‘unaware tourists’. It should be instinctive not to litter public places.”