Chamba, Dalhousie, Khajjiar hotels, eateries to face Rs 5,000 fine for littering

Hotels, restaurants and roadside eateries (dhabas) in Chamba, Dalhousie and Khajjiar will now face a Rs 5,000 fine if found littering their premises or surrounding areas. The Pollution Control Board (PCB), Tourism Department, and Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department will jointly enforce the new directive, which follows a decision based on a recent High Court order.

Advertisement

As per the guidelines, all hotel and dhaba owners are required to install warning boards stating the Rs 5,000 penalty for littering by June 21. Failure to comply will lead to strict action from the authorities.

Currently, over 150 hotels and more than 200 dhabas operate across Chamba, Dalhousie and Khajjiar, attracting hundreds of tourists daily. Due to the lack of a proper waste disposal system, tourists and customers often dispose of food waste and single-use plastics in open areas, leading to widespread littering. However, with this new rule, stricter enforcement is expected to significantly improve cleanliness across these tourist destinations.

Previously, such action was limited to occasional inspections by the PCB, but under the new order, multiple departments will conduct regular inspections and take immediate action against violators. Both the Tourism and Food & Civil Supplies Departments have been authorised to issue challans for littering in open spaces.

Assistant Engineer of the Pollution Control Board, Rahul Sharma, confirmed that by June 21 all hotel and dhaba owners must install warning boards indicating the Rs 5,000 fine for littering. Anyone caught throwing waste will be penalised accordingly, he added.

The initiative aims to enhance hygiene and maintain the aesthetic appeal of popular tourist locations, ultimately contributing to a cleaner and greener Himachal, he said.