Uttarakhand Government Mandates Garbage Bags or Dustbins in All Incoming Vehicles

Taking a cue from the Sikkim government, the Uttarakhand government has taken a significant step towards maintaining cleanliness. Following the directives of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Secretary Radha Raturi has issued instructions mandating garbage bags or dustbins in all vehicles entering Uttarakhand. Responsibility for this will be assigned to tourists, tour operators, travel agencies, and vehicle drivers. The Chief Secretary has instructed strict enforcement of this rule.

From now on, all vehicles entering Uttarakhand must have garbage bags or dustbins. It is commonly observed that many tourist spots, including the Char Dham, are littered with waste. Tourists often leave plastic bottles, wrappers, and other trash behind. In light of this situation, the Uttarakhand government has taken this major step. The Chief Secretary has instructed regular checks and fines to ensure compliance. She has directed the Transport Department to ensure strict adherence to these orders.

Previously, the Transport Department had written to the transport commissioners of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. The Transport Department’s instructions clearly stated that during the Char Dham Yatra, passengers in vehicles cannot throw trash on the roads; hence, it is mandatory to have dustbins or garbage bags in all vehicles. The Chief Secretary emphasized that when issuing trip cards to vehicles entering the state, it must be ensured that each vehicle has a dustbin or garbage bag. Public awareness on this matter should be widely disseminated. She has also directed to establish communication and coordination with tour operators, travel agencies, and vehicle drivers regarding this matter.

The Chief Secretary noted that as a tourist state, maintaining natural cleanliness and protecting the environment is a collective responsibility of Uttarakhand residents as well as the millions of tourists and pilgrims visiting each year. This task requires collective participation.