Why Are Dogs Turning Blue in Mumbai?

They’re supposed to be man’s best friend, but there are still millions of stray dogs across the world. In some countries, the sight of stray dogs wandering is nothing abnormal either. That’s certainly the case in India, a country which has more stray dogs than any other in the world.

What is abnormal, however, is when those stray dogs turn blue. In Taloja, an industrial town to the east of Mumbai, that’s exactly what’s happened. Why? Read on to see what’s behind the blue dog oddity.

The August blues

Arati Chauhan, an environmental activist, first posted pictures of the blue dogs on social media at the beginning of August. What she didn’t expect was for them to go viral, being picked up by news agencies around the world. “Pollutants from Taloja Industrial area not only ruining the water bodies affecting humans there but also affecting Animals, Birds, Reptiles” she said in her post.

Looking into the matter

The photos, and subsequent reaction, led to an investigation by the MPCB – Mumbai’s pollution control board. They found that the stray dogs had made their way into the premises of a Ducol Organics factory.

They produce paint and plastic products, which would explain the unnatural blue colour. The MPCB found that the factory in question was failing to adhere to anti-pollution requirements when handling chemicals used for paints and plastics.

MCPB suspends operations

Because of the findings, the factory has been temporarily suspended from operations. “We’re not allowing anything wrong in the MIDC area,” said Anil Mohekar, MPCB’s Navi Mumbai regional officer. “When we observe any non-compliance, we immediately close down the factory.” He’s not bluffing either. The MPCB closed four other plants in just two weeks in August.

However, critics of the MPCB claim that the action is simply reactive. “Only when media or activists bring these things to their attention, they swing into action,” says environmental lawyer Godfrey Pimenta. It seems there is a growing feeling that the MPCB is too lax with their enforcement of pollution laws.

The importance of regulations

As displayed by the case of the dogs in Mumbai, the importance of regulations can’t be underestimated. Regulations are put in place for a reason – to protect people, animals and the environment. In the UK, for instance, new guidance has been released for working with asbestos in soils. With a large housing drive, these regulations are an important way to protect everyone, including those working on constructions.