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The Himachal Pradesh High Court has suggested that the state government make it mandatory for tourists to carry a garbage bag to manage the waste they generate during their visit. A bench of Justices Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Sushil Kukreja urged the state to follow the example of Goa and Sikkim in promoting sustainable tourism.
The bench noted that in Sikkim, all tourist vehicles must carry a large garbage bag, with tour operators, travel agencies, and vehicle drivers responsible for informing tourists about its use for waste collection and disposal. This measure aims to ensure community participation in maintaining sustainability at tourist destinations, the court stated in its July 19 order.
The court’s order came in response to a series of petitions addressing environmental concerns in Himachal Pradesh. The court also suggested the state government consider imposing solid waste management charges on tourists. It issued several directives to improve waste management, including conducting audits of waste carried by trekkers, establishing small dry waste storage facilities at checkpoints, and forming committees with representatives from panchayats, the Tourism Development Corporation, Ecotourism Society, and NGOs.
Additionally, the court directed the Himachal Pradesh government to conduct training programmes for panchayats and urban local bodies on waste segregation and material recovery, in collaboration with relevant NGOs. These measures aim to ensure that user fees collected at checkpoints are transparently managed and used for waste management and environmental conservation efforts.
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