List includes responsible waste disposal, respect for local traditions
and use of eco-friendly items
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 18: The Hynniewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC) has appealed to visitors travelling to Sohra and the Khasi-Jaintia Hills to be mindful of their impact on the environment and to help preserve the region’s delicate ecological balance.
HYC has issued a comprehensive set of travel guidelines outlining how tourists can reduce harm to nature while exploring one of Meghalaya’s most visited destinations.
The list includes responsible waste disposal using designated bins, respect for local traditions and surroundings, the use of eco-friendly items such as reusable water bottles and cloth bags, and maintaining cleanliness in public areas.
The organisation also urged visitors to familiarise themselves with existing rules on waste management and conservation before touring the region.
At the same time, HYC made clear that several activities are strictly off-limits. These include littering on roads or open spaces, damaging flora and fauna, polluting rivers, streams, and lakes, collecting rocks or plants, and cooking or dining along public roads. Such behaviour, it said, endangers both the natural ecosystem and public safety.
HYC emphasised that the preservation of Sohra’s beauty and biodiversity depends on shared responsibility between the local community and visitors. It noted that small acts of care by tourists can have a lasting positive impact on the area’s environmental future.
In its closing message, HYC reminded travellers to “explore with purpose, protect with passion,” urging them to “take only memories and leave only footprints.”
