The misty Buxa Hills, nestled inside the Buxa Tiger Reserve, are set for a transformation. Taking inspiration from Mawlynnong—the Meghalaya village once hailed as the cleanest in Asia—the Alipurduar district administration has rolled out an ambitious campaign titled “Heal Buxa Hills.”

Mawlynnong became a global symbol of eco-discipline two decades ago with its bamboo dustbins, plastic ban, and community-led cleanliness drives. The Alipurduar administration now aims to replicate that ethos in Buxa, where unchecked tourist activity has scarred its natural beauty.

Plastic ban across 13 villages

“Buxa is one of our biggest tourism magnets, but plastic waste is eating away at its soul. We want Buxa to shine like Mawlynnong. It deserves that,” said District Magistrate R. Bimala.

A strict diktat is now in place: plastic is outlawed across all 13 villages of Buxa Hills, including Adama, Lepchakha, Buxaduar, and Sadar Bazar. Tourists may trek, sip, or snack—but not with plastic. Violators will face fines, while smoking and paan spitting are also prohibited.

Grassroots drive for cleanliness

The campaign is being implemented in collaboration with gram panchayats and forest officials. Locals will collect waste from villages, transport it to Santalabari, and then forward it to the Alipurduar Municipality’s plastic waste management facility.

What sets this initiative apart is its community spirit. From shopkeepers to tourist guides, residents have embraced the campaign as a shared duty rather than a government diktat. Clay cups, paper-leaf plates, wooden spoons, and cloth bags are now replacing plastic at local stalls.

“Tourism is our livelihood, but plastic destroys the very nature tourists come to see,” said Seema Dukpa, a food stall owner. “We now serve in clay cups and leaf plates. It feels good to protect our hills.”

Tourist guides have pledged to act as the first line of defense against plastic pollution. “Every tourist will hear it from us—no plastic, no compromise,” said guide James Bhutia.

With the Buxa Tiger Reserve reopening to tourists on September 16 after the monsoon break, the administration wants the new rules in force before trekkers return. Posters warning of fines will be displayed prominently, and vigilance committees will monitor compliance.

A cleaner Buxa, a greener future

“The stakes are high. Tourism is the economic backbone of the hills. A cleaner Buxa promises not just environmental redemption but also sustainable prosperity,” said Elizabeth Dukpa, a resident. “We want Buxa to be as famous as Mawlynnong—only bigger, only greener.”

District Magistrate Bimala echoed the sentiment, stressing that the campaign’s success would depend on people’s participation: “Whether the model of Mawlynnong can be transplanted here will depend not on posters or fines, but on the people themselves—who must rise as guardians of the forest they call home.”

For now, the mission is simple but audacious—to turn Buxa into the “cleanest hills of Bengal,” setting a new benchmark for sustainable tourism in the state.

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