The latest to go viral online is the heated confrontation between tourists and locals over littering in Nainital. The incident was at Lover’s Point, a famous tourist destination, on December 14, when a couple of tourists allegedly discarded a cake box and tissues on the roadside instead of using a dustbin. This was captured in a video posted by Instagram user Shinjini Sengupta, whose sister first called out the tourists for littering.
Sengupta stated that the tourists, consisting of two women accompanied by a man in a car with Lucknow number plate, were slicing a cake at the point. Later, they scattered tissues and an empty cake packet on the road. Her sister pointed that out and politely requested them to dispose of the waste from the dustbin.
“They replied, ‘There’s no dustbin. Dikhao kahan hai. Hai hi nahi, etc etc,'” Sengupta said to HT.com. This means that the tourists said there was no dustbin available. Sengupta’s sister pointed out a nearby eatery, which probably had bins, and highlighted a “use dustbin” sign visible on the railing. However, the women reportedly argued that the road was already dirty and adding one more item wouldn’t matter.
The situation aggravated as a local shopkeeper interceded, asking the tourists to put the wrappers inside a dustbin, arguing that authorities often punish the local vendors for littering. The tourists’ driver allegedly threw the packet containing the cake into the nearest valley.
Shopkeeper appeared visibly irked to specify that he wanted it dumped into a dustbin and not down the valley. He argues for a long time before the tourist interrupts him and asks, “Mind your business”, says an eyewitness captured in a video uploaded by Sengupta.
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A shop owner even tells the woman’s side to the matter where she elaborates how a clean place should be. However, the tourist’s response to her seems as uncooperative, claims eyewitnesses.
The video had gone viral on Instagram with people questioning the behavior of the tourists.
“Shame on those who litter everywhere. And worst part is they call themselves educated,” wrote one commenter.
Another user remarked, “People will never learn unless they are heavily fined.”
Many identified the tourists as Lucknow ones by looking at the car’s number plate and requested strict penalty for them.
This incident reveals the ongoing concerns over irresponsible tourist behavior and increased demands for stricter enforcement of anti-littering measures in scenic destinations.
