Now Reading: Plastic bottle, snack packet ban on Manimahesh Yatra route
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Plastic bottle, snack packet ban on Manimahesh Yatra route
Chamba deputy commissioner Mukesh Repaswal has banned the sale of small-capacity water bottles and small packets of chips, namkeen, and other snacks along the Manimahesh Yatra route to reduce plastic waste and…
The Story in Brief
Chamba deputy commissioner Mukesh Repaswal has banned the sale of small-capacity water bottles and small packets of chips, namkeen, and other snacks along the Manimahesh Yatra route to reduce plastic waste and protect the local ecosystem. The ban also covers beedis, cigarettes, and tobacco products. The order applies to all shops along the trekking route from Hadsar to the Manimahesh Lake, which sits at 13,000 feet. The annual fortnight-long pilgrimage begins August 25. Repaswal has asked shopkeepers to cooperate and directed the PWD to repair roads and bridges before the yatra starts.
The Indian Opinion
The ban on small plastic bottles and snack packets is a practical step, but enforcement will be the real test. Similar bans on other pilgrimages often fail because shopkeepers circumvent rules or pilgrims carry banned items from outside. The administration must deploy enough inspectors along the 14-km trek and impose visible fines. Will the DC also ensure proper waste collection bins at key points? Without that, the ban risks being a paper tiger, leaving the fragile Manimahesh Valley littered anyway.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
