No More Littering Around! Uttarakhand Mandates Dustbin In Tourist Vehicles

Uttarakhand Travel Advisory: The Uttarakhand government issued instructions to strictly enforce the rule of mandatory installation of dustbins and garbage bags in vehicles entering the state.

Dustbin Mandatory In Vehicles Visiting Uttarakhand: Citing "natural cleanliness of the state and protecting its environment", the Uttarakhand government on Thursday issued instructions to strictly enforce the rule of mandatory installation of dustbins and garbage bags in vehicles entering the state. Before issuing trip cards to vehicles, it should be ensured that they have a dustbin or garbage bag installed, Chief Secretary Radha Raturi said.

The State Transport Department recently wrote to the Transport Commissioners of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, informing them that it is mandatory for vehicles coming to the state during the Chardham Yatra to have dustbins and garbage bags installed to prevent travelers from littering roads.

Vehicles entering the state should be checked and fined if they do not comply with this mandatory rule, the chief secretary said. Tour operators, travel agencies, drivers and the general public should be informed about this rule, the chief secretary added. Officials will check vehicles to make sure they follow this rule. 

"Uttarakhand is a tourist state. Maintaining the natural cleanliness of the state and protecting its environment is the collective responsibility of its residents as well as lakhs of tourists and devotees who visit the state every year," Raturi said. It is noteworthy that Uttarakhand is a weekend getaway for the people of Delhi and surrounding areas, resulting in a large number of people visiting Uttarakhand on weekends.

A few days back the Sikkim government had also made it mandatory for all tourist vehicles visiting the state to carry large garbage bags. The purpose of doing this is to promote environmental sustainability in all tourist destinations. Vehicles that don't comply will be fined according to government rules, the Sikkin's Tourism and Civil Aviation Department said.

(Inputs- PTI)