Shillong: The District Magistrate, East Jaintia Hills District has promulgated an order under section 144 CrPC prohibiting using of polythene with a thickness of less than 40 microns in all the tourist spots of East Jaintia Hills. Littering and spitting inside the tourist spots, throwing of rubbish in surrounding villages, consumption of alcohol and disposing of bottles inside the tourist spots is also prohibited.
The order is necessitated in view of the reports received that indiscriminate disposal of plastic bags, bottles etc. is rampantly taking place the district especially at Mutong/Moopon Falls, Ranji Falls, Sah Ksaw, Krem Umlawan, Krem Kotsati and Sniriang Park. This has resulted in an alarming accumulation of plastic waste which is becoming an eyesore and a nuisance besides reducing the scenic and pristine beauty of the popular tourist landmarks within the district.
Moreover, such haphazard dumping of used plastic is in serious contravention to the various Environment Protection Acts and Waste Management Rules of the Government of India with special reference to Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.
The order will come into force with immediate effect until further orders.
