Initiative to keep Jalpaiguri’s tourist destinations clean

With tourist footfall set to rise across the Dooars belt, the Jalpaiguri district administration, spearheaded by the Jalpaiguri Zilla Parishad, has launched “Parishkar Paryatan”, a comprehensive clean tourism initiative aimed at keeping the district’s major tourist destinations clean, plastic-free and environmentally sustainable during the peak travel season.

The initiative was inaugurated on Wednesday at the Lali Guras Picnic Spot in the Matiali block of Jalpaiguri district.

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Recognising that tourism flourishes best in a clean and well-preserved natural environment, the initiative seeks to balance tourism growth with ecological responsibility. Forests, rivers, picnic spots and forest-adjacent destinations that attract thousands of visitors each year have been brought under a structured cleanliness and waste-management framework, with emphasis on community participation and behavioural change.

Structured planning and stakeholder participation

Under Parishkar Paryatan, major tourist zones, including picnic spots, riverbanks, forest areas, resorts and homestay-intensive locations, have been identified and mapped block-wise and gram panchayat-wise. This systematic planning allows closer monitoring and focused implementation, ensuring that even seasonal and lesser-known tourist spots are covered.

The initiative is built on collective responsibility, involving block-level officials, gram panchayat representatives, police and forest departments, community-based organisations, NGOs, picnic committees, resort and homestay owners, shopkeepers, vendors and media representatives. This inclusive approach aims to transform cleanliness into a shared civic duty rather than a top-down enforcement exercise.

Cleanliness drive, enforcement and smart waste management

Intensive information, education and communication (IEC) activities are being carried out at tourist entry points, parking areas, markets, resorts and picnic zones to promote responsible behaviour, proper waste disposal and reduced plastic use. To ensure compliance, fines have been fixed for littering and the use or supply of plastic, with enforcement carried out by community development volunteers in coordination with the police.

Daily cleaning operations are being undertaken by VRPs and VCTs at tourist sites, supported by the installation of dustbins and cement pits for waste segregation at source. The administration has also rolled out smart solid waste management (SWM), including QR-coded dustbins, real-time e-kart tracking and data-driven waste collection to improve efficiency and accountability, particularly during peak tourist periods.

Eco-friendly alternatives, livelihoods and incentives

As part of the initiative, eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastic, such as sal leaf and arecanut plates, biodegradable carry bags and products made by self-help groups—are being actively promoted, supporting both environmental goals and local livelihoods. Ragpickers and marginalised groups have been integrated into the waste-management system at the gram panchayat level, with plastic waste procured at Rs 20 per kilogram through plastic waste management units, providing dignity and income support.

To encourage sustained participation and healthy competition, the district administration has announced seasonal awards for categories, including cleanest tourist spot, best managed tourist area, highest plastic collection, best block and best gram panchayat.

Officials said Parishkar Paryatan is not merely a cleanliness drive but a long-term commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism in Jalpaiguri, ensuring that the region’s natural beauty is preserved even as tourism activity intensifies across the Dooars.