The Meghalaya government has decided to introduce ‘Green Deposit’ wherein tourists visiting tourist spots in the State are discouraged to carry plastic water bottles, chip packets and non-biodegradable food packets to the tourist spots.
According to an office memorandum issued by the Tourism Department recently, tourists who carry plastic water bottles, chip packets and non-biodegradable food packets to the tourist spots will have to contribute to a ‘Green Deposit’ which will be refunded on their exit from the tourist spot in return for the plastic water bottles, chip packets and non-biodegradable food packets.
“A minimum of Rs 100 will be taken as ‘Green Deposit’ which will act as security deposit,” the office memorandum said.
The managements of the tourist spots are empowered to collect the ‘Green Deposit’.
The office memorandum also said that tourism operations produce large quantities of waste, some of which is toxic.
“Responsible waste management is not only about carefully planning the disposal of waste, but also about reducing and recycling waste that is generated, ensuring that the waste generators take responsibility for the waste on account of their activities,” it added.
It also said that some of the villages on the route to the tourist spots have to bear the brunt of improper waste disposal.
The office memorandum also said that one of the core guiding principles of Tourism Policy is ‘sustainable and responsible tourism’.
“The State government recognises that while growth would usher in considerable economic benefits, unplanned and unregulated growth could culminate in adverse environmental and socio-cultural effects,” it said.
Meghalaya stands as one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the country, welcoming around 10 lakh visitors annually, with projections indicating a rise to 15 lakh by 2025.
However, there are growing concerns regarding plastic wastes like potato chip packets, food packets and empty plastic water bottles littering in and around many tourist spots in the State due to lack of proper action plan to deal with littering.
Even newly found tourist sites like waterfalls, picnic spots and trekking sites have not been spared of plastics.
Further, there have been calls from many quarters to authorities to ensure that tourist vehicles should have their own waste bags where tourists can dump their wastes including food packets and water bottles.
In 2022, the Tourism Department had asked the villages and organisations managing the tourist spots to install sign boards indicating ‘Plastic Free Zone’ in the vicinity of the tourist spots.
