MANDI: In an effort to address the increasing garbage crisis across Himachal Pradesh, the state government has enforced a rule under the HP Non-Biodegradable Garbage Control Act, 1995, requiring all commercial passenger vehicles to install dustbins or ‘car bins’.
The rule, effective from April 29, has stirred a wave of resentment among commercial drivers, who have criticised the move as unbalanced, ill-conceived and discriminatory.
Ask why only commercial drivers being targeted
Pratap Chand, a local taxi driver, questioned the government’s selective approach. “Why single out only commercial vehicles? Private and official cars litter the roads just as much. If this is truly about the environment, then the rule should apply to everyone,” he said.
Sanjay Kumar, a private bus operator, said, “We always encourage passengers to collect their waste and dispose of it properly. But private cars throw trash out openly. We support clean roads, but why are only we expected to comply?”
Another commercial driver, Chaman, lashed out at the government, sarcastically suggesting that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu should take all commercial vehicles under government custody and use them as moving garbage bins.
“Officers pass orders without even consulting those who are directly affected. This isn’t practical at all,” he said, reflecting the growing anger among the driving community.
Lack of space for dustbins in cars
Rajesh Thakur, another driver, pointed out the lack of vehicle design considerations. “Where exactly are we supposed to place a dustbin? There’s hardly any room inside besides the space reserved for passengers,” he said.
Echoing these sentiments, another driver, Raju, warned about hygiene issues. “Placing a dustbin inside a small air-conditioned vehicle could be a nightmare. The AC would just circulate foul smells, making the ride unbearable for everyone,” he said.
Selective enforcement raises fairness concerns
Drivers are also raising concerns over the rule not being applied to private vehicles, including tourist cars, government vehicles and trucks entering the state from outside.
They argue that such selective enforcement defeats the larger purpose of waste management and public discipline.
Government’s defence and future promises
Dr DC Rana, Director of the Department of Environment, Science and Technology, clarified, “The goal is to build a culture of responsible waste disposal. Private vehicles may be brought under the rule in the future.”
However, this assurance has done little to pacify commercial drivers, who feel they are being unfairly penalized.
Commercial vehicle owners who fail to install dustbins face fine up to Rs 10,000 while passengers caught littering may be fined Rs 1,500.
A dedicated mobile app for on-the-spot enforcement is also in the works. Yet, questions linger about why similar penalties aren’t being levied on private or official vehicles.
Rajneesh, a travel operator from Kullu, justified the government’s intent to curb littering on Himachal’s roads calling it commendable, but added that enforcement without stakeholder consultation or logistical feasibility makes the rule flawed and unfair.
Munish Sood
