The Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, has issued a Prohibitory Order prohibiting roadside cooking and littering at tourist spots, roadways and public places across the district.
The Order has been issued in order to maintain cleanliness, ensure public safety and preserve the scenic beauty of the State.
The Order stated that visitors, tourists and local residents have increasingly been engaging in cooking and picnicking along roadsides and at tourist spots, resulting in the disposal of food waste, plastic materials and other litter in public places. Such activities have been observed to cause environmental pollution, create health and hygiene concerns, affect the cleanliness and scenic beauty of tourist destinations, and cause obstruction and inconvenience to road users as well as damage to public property.
Accordingly, roadside cooking and cooking in public places, tourist spots, road margins and other unauthorised locations have been prohibited within East Jaintia Hills District. Littering, dumping or disposal of food waste, plastic bottles, plastic bags, disposable plates, cups, wrappers and other waste materials at tourist spots, roadsides, roadways, public places and other unauthorised locations have also been strictly prohibited.
The Order further directs visitors, tourists and members of the public to dispose of waste only at designated waste collection or disposal points and to maintain cleanliness at tourist destinations and public places. No person shall undertake any activity that causes obstruction to traffic, nuisance to the public, environmental pollution, damage to public property or degradation of the natural and scenic beauty of tourist places.
All concerned authorities, local bodies, village authorities and law-enforcement agencies have been directed to take necessary steps to create awareness, monitor compliance and prevent violations of the Order.
Any person found violating the Order shall be liable for appropriate action and penalties under the applicable laws, rules and regulations in force.
The general public, tourists and visitors have been urged to extend full cooperation to the District Administration in maintaining cleanliness, public safety and the natural beauty of East Jaintia Hills District.
The Order has come into force with immediate effect and shall remain in force until further orders. It has been issued in the interest of public safety, environmental protection, cleanliness and preservation of the scenic beauty of the district.