Shimla’s New Clean-Up Drive: Tourists to Carry Garbage Bags

Shimla is rolling out a new initiative to keep the city clean and beautiful. Soon, tourists visiting this picturesque hill station will need to carry garbage bags in their vehicles. This measure, introduced by the Municipal Corporation, aims to tackle the growing litter problem that has become a major concern.

Despite daily garbage collection from around 66,000 residents, waste continues to pile up on the slopes, drains, and roadsides. Officials point out that much of this litter comes from tourists who discard food wrappers and other waste in the open.

To address this, the Municipal Corporation will require all vehicles entering Shimla to have separate garbage bags. Drivers will inform tourists about using these bags for their waste, and designated disposal points will be set up around the city. The Corporation will collect the waste from these points to ensure proper disposal.

This initiative is part of the ‘Swachh Shahar, Samriddh Shahar Abhiyan’ (Clean City, Prosperous City Campaign), running in Shimla until April 10. Municipal Corporation Commissioner Bhupender Atri mentioned that daily cleaning efforts are already in place, and women from self-help groups will soon join the campaign to raise awareness door-to-door.

An awareness marathon is also planned to encourage responsibility among residents and tourists. The city has already collected nine tons of single-use plastic, which is being handed over for road construction. Additionally, a special campaign with schools and colleges will encourage children to collect single-use plastic and support the city’s recycling efforts.