The Sikkim government has introduced a new mandate requiring all tourist vehicles entering the state to carry large garbage bags.
This was announced by the Sikkim Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation.
The initiative aims to promote environmental sustainability across tourism destinations and encourage community involvement to achieve this goal, the ministry said.
Tour operators, tour operators and drivers are responsible for informing tourists about the use of these bags for waste collection and disposal, according to a notification from the Sikkim Tourism and Civil Aviation Department.
The ministry said compliance with the regulation will be verified through random inspections of tourism vehicles, with penalties being levied on vehicles found to be non-compliant in accordance with government regulations.
Apart from this, the Sikkim government also plans to conduct clean-up campaigns and events to educate tourists about proper garbage management and the importance of environmental protection.
Also Read
- Indore creates world record, plants 1.1 million saplings in a day
- Ratna Bhandar of Puri’s Jagannath temple reopened after 46 years
It will be the responsibility of tour operators, travel agencies and vehicle drivers to inform passengers about the use of garbage bags to dispose of waste, it said.
Spot checks of tourist vehicles will be carried out to ensure compliance and any vehicle violating the order will be penalised, he added.
Cleanliness awareness campaigns are being conducted to educate tourists about waste management and environmental sustainability, officials said.
Sikkim, which is the least populous state of India with a population of over 60000000, gets more than 20 million visitors every year for its scenic Himalayan destinations, they said.
