Shimla, July 28,
In a significant move to protect Himachal Pradesh’s natural beauty, the state’s High Court has ruled that all tourist vehicles entering popular destinations must carry large garbage bags.
This decision follows a petition by Devan Khanna, addressing the widespread littering and improper disposal of plastic and other waste in public areas.
The bench, consisting of Judges Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Sushil Kukreja, delivered a 40-page verdict, highlighting the importance of environmental sustainability and community involvement.
The court’s order is a crucial measure to reduce pollution and keep tourist areas clean. It reflects similar initiatives taken by other eco-friendly states like Sikkim.
Khanna’s petition shed light on the environmental damage caused by tourists’ littering. Recognizing the severity of the issue, the court mandated the use of garbage bags in tourist vehicles to promote sustainable tourism and ensure proper waste management.
The court directed the Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation to issue a notification promoting environmental sustainability in all tourist destinations and mandating that all tourist vehicles carry large garbage bags.
Tour operators, travel agencies, and vehicle drivers are tasked with informing tourists about this requirement and ensuring compliance. The department will conduct random checks on tourist vehicles to enforce this mandate. Any vehicle found non-compliant will face penalties as per departmental regulations.
Additionally, the department plans to organize awareness campaigns and cleanliness drives to educate tourists on waste management and environmental sustainability.
The Deputy Commissioner of Lahaul & Spiti has been specifically instructed to prevent the open discharge of untreated waste, with compliance reports to be submitted periodically.
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