Sohra Bans Roadside Cooking and Open Flames

Overview

• An immediate prohibitory order from Sohra Sub‑Divisional Magistrate Mark A. Challam bars cooking with LPG cylinders, stoves, charcoal, firewood and other open flames at roadsides, viewpoints, lay‑bys, parking areas and forest land across the sub‑division.
• The order came into force under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and will remain until further notice with penalties available under BNSS, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and environmental laws.
• Police, executive magistrates, forest and tourism officers, public works staff and local Dorbar Shnongs have been directed to enforce the ban and to prevent littering and unsafe disposal of food waste and disposable utensils.
• Designated picnic sites may be exempt if approved by competent authorities or Dorbar Shnongs and if they have adequate waste‑disposal and fire‑safety measures in place.
• Local tourism stakeholders have welcomed the move as a step to protect Sohra’s sensitive ecosystem and to push visitors toward responsible behaviour while authorities monitor enforcement and compliance.