Garbage bins now mandatory in public, private transport vehicles

All public and private transport vehicles, including taxis, buses, trucks and tempo travellers, plying in the state will have to keep a garbage bin from today. On March 28, the government had issued a notification, making it mandatory for all public and private transport vehicles to have garbage bins. The order was to come into effect in a month’s time.

As per the order, vehicles without garbage bins can be imposed a fine up to Rs 10,000. Similarly, any person caught littering will be liable to pay a fine of Rs 1,500. The government has made a provision for penalties in the Himachal Pradesh Non-Biodegradable Garbage Control Act, 1995.

A large number of tourists visit the state in taxis, tempo travellers and luxury buses. At tourist places, the problem of littering is increasing day by day. “The purpose is to check the spread of garbage in mountains and tourist places and protect the environment,” said an official.