Shillong, Jul 30:The Hynñiewtrep Youths’ Council has backed the Meghalaya Rural Tourism Forum’s call for a statewide ban on roadside and open-space cooking by tourists, citing damage to the state’s fragile ecosystem.
In a statement, HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem said the ban was a “timely intervention” to protect Meghalaya’s natural beauty. He noted a rise in tourists cooking at roadsides, riverbanks, waterfalls and viewpoints, often leaving food waste, plastic bottles and disposable utensils that pollute the environment and create safety hazards.
“Tourism must be promoted responsibly and should never come at the expense of the environment,” Synrem said. He added that discouraging roadside cooking would push tourists toward local restaurants, cafés and homestays, thereby strengthening community livelihoods.
HYC urged the state government to immediately notify a ban with strict enforcement and awareness drives. It also suggested setting up designated picnic areas with proper waste management facilities.
“Tourism should empower local communities and create sustainable livelihoods instead of bypassing them,” Synrem added.
