Sohra Civil Sub-Division bans roadside cooking and open fires
A prohibitory order in Sohra Civil Sub-Division bans roadside cooking, open fires and littering across public spaces, with exemptions for approved picnic sites.
The Sohra Civil Sub-Division in Meghalaya has issued a prohibitory order banning roadside cooking, open fires and littering within its jurisdiction. The order was issued by Sohra Sub-Divisional Magistrate Mark A. Challam under Section 163 of the BNSS, 2023, and it came into effect immediately.
What the order prohibits
According to the notification, people and groups are not allowed to cook or light fires on roadsides and other undesignated public spaces. The restrictions cover roads, parking areas, viewpoints and forest areas inside the Sohra Civil Sub-Division, including the stretch along the Shillong–Sohra–Shella Road.
The order also restricts the use of heating and cooking items outdoors. It bans the use of LPG cylinders, kerosene stoves, charcoal stoves, firewood, barbecue grills, and other cooking or heating appliances on roadsides and public places.
Litter control and waste disposal rules
Along with cooking and fire restrictions, the order directs visitors to avoid littering. Food waste, plastic, bottles, disposable utensils, packaging materials and other refuse must be removed and disposed of only at authorised waste collection points.
Authorities said the move follows reports of tourists and visitors preparing food along roadsides, lay-bys and viewpoints. They cited indiscriminate littering, environmental degradation, public nuisance and traffic obstruction, and also noted fire risks linked to open cooking practices.
The administration has exempted designated picnic sites or places approved by the competent authority or the concerned Dorbar Shnong, where cooking is allowed and proper waste disposal and fire safety arrangements are in place. Police, Executive Magistrates and officials from the Forest, Tourism and Public Works Departments, along with local authorities and Dorbar Shnongs, have been asked to ensure strict enforcement. The notification states that violators may face prosecution under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and other applicable environmental laws, and the order will remain in force until further orders.
