In response to growing concerns over public safety, law and order, and environmental protection during the festive season, the Kamrup district administration has enacted a prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). This order, which remains effective until further notice, imposes strict limitations at picnic spots and tourist locations throughout the district. District Magistrate Deba Kumar Mishra, ACS, issued this directive to address the influx of visitors during the holiday celebrations of Christmas, New Year, and Magh Bihu.
The authorities expressed their concerns regarding various issues such as public nuisance, environmental degradation, and risks to overall peace, referencing past incidents of reckless behavior, excessive noise, improper waste disposal, and damage to public property. As part of the restrictions, gatherings for picnics or feasts at designated areas in the Kamrup district are forbidden after 5 pm. Furthermore, the administration has prohibited the use or disposal of non-biodegradable plastics in and around picnic sites and river ghats, alongside measures against littering and open defecation. In addition, the use of high-volume loudspeakers, DJ systems, public address equipment, and other noise-making devices is banned at picnic spots and riverbanks. The sale, purchase, and consumption of alcohol in these areas have also been disallowed to curtail disorderly conduct and accidents, as the contamination of rivers and natural water bodies can severely threaten aquatic life and fragile ecosystems.
This prohibitory order has been enacted ex-parte due to the impracticality of serving individual notices to each offender. Violations are subject to punitive measures under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, alongside other applicable laws. The Superintendent of Police for Kamrup has been tasked with ensuring stringent enforcement of these measures. The district administration appeals to the public for cooperation, reiterating that these actions are preventive and aimed at protecting lives, properties, and the environment, all while allowing festive celebrations to proceed in a peaceful and responsible manner.