By Adele Isaacson Wahlang
It was a beautiful summer day in Shillong. My family and I decided to go on our usual Sunday outing. As we drove to Umiam, on our way we decided to stop at “Lum Sohpetbneng” (also known as “The naval of Heaven”, a place of pilgrimage for the Khasi tribe of indigenous religion) situated near the picturesque Umiam Lake. There was a little drizzle and the place looked lush green. As we reached half way, we halted at a spot having a beautiful view overlooking the lake.
To our surprise, my family and I were disgusted to see the place littered all over with plastic bottles, food packets and other non-biodegradable stuff in a shameful manner. Without hesitation, we decided to clean the area so that we could enjoy the view and have a relaxed picnic after a hectic week.
We used twigs to pick up the garbage scattered all over and collected them in one place to burn it. Since we did not expect this to happen, our only option was to burn the garbage. I thought to myself that this needs to be viewed by people in order to spread an awareness, to show some concern towards environment and preserve its natural beauty. Tourist spots are not meant for dumping garbage but are places to be admired and cherished. However, this place was robbed of its beauty as it became like a garbage dumpyard. It is very sad to see that tourist spots like this are ill-treated.
In this context, I would like to mention another incident. It was during our visit to Khrang Suri in Jaintia Hills two years ago. There were many tourists and once again the whole area was full of litter. It hurts to see tourist sites polluted with litter as it spoils the whole beauty and environment.
I personally approached the locals who were the caretakers of that spot to make sure that cleanliness is maintained. I have not been to the place ever since but I do hope that they have taken this seriously.
There is another tourist spot, the Umiam View Point, which has caught my eye and attention. The Umiam View Point, which is located on the Shillong- Guwahati Highway, is a famous spot where many tourists stop to admire the view of the lake and the sunset, especially in the evening. This has enabled small souvenir and snack shops to open in the area. Unfortunately, this has resulted in the place becoming polluted due to litter. I intend to approach the vendors of the area to ensure that tourists refrain from littering the place. The vendors should also take the responsibility to see that they clean the area daily. They play a crucial role in this aspect and thus need to be reminded to maintain cleanliness.
These are a few of my personal experiences which have affected me and have made me feel that some strong action should be taken to instill civic sense in the minds of the people in order to enjoy and preserve the natural beauty that surrounds us.
I would like to encourage more youths to step forward and take action towards this major concern which has affected the environment, to make a difference, to bring about change and to inspire and motivate others for a better future.
Meghalaya is rich in natural beauty and tourism is growing at a fast pace in the state. Waste handling is a major concern in the tourism industry, especially since improper waste treatment causes increased environmental deterioration. Therefore, effective measures on waste management should be the focal point.
(The author works at NERIE, Umiam)
Sunday Shillong says…
It is next to impossible to teach cleanliness to a grown-up Indian because littering is an innate quality of all our countrymen, including the educated and the rich. Therefore, the lessons on hygiene and cleanliness in public places should begin at
childhood. Schools, including those run by the government, should make these lessons compulsory and part of the curriculum. If need be, schools should invite parents and tell them the dos and don’ts of a civilised life. For tackling reckless adults who love to leave behind souvenirs (in the form of plastic wrappers, empty bottles or spit) wherever they go, authorities should strictly impose on-the-spot penalty, and a hefty one, wherever it is possible. The government should collaborate with local bodies at every tourist site to monitor visitors and prevent them from littering. Without such stringent measures, the most hyped Swachh Bharat Mission will turn into another farcical affair.