Foreign Tourist Cleans Polluted Meghalaya Pool, Exposing India’s Tourism Littering Crisis

New Delhi, November 24, 2025: A viral video from Meghalaya, often called the “Abode of Clouds” and celebrated for its pristine natural beauty, has ignited a fiery debate across social media about responsible tourism and the alarming issue of littering. The video, originally shared by a local resident, captured a Portuguese tourist named Bruno diving into a clear natural pool to retrieve a collection of discarded beer and plastic bottles.

The Disturbing Scene

The footage, which quickly garnered widespread attention, shows the local resident, Dappura Chyne, expressing deep disappointment over the sight of trash in a water body famed for its cleanliness. The moment when the foreign tourist, Bruno, willingly jumps into the water to carry out the impromptu clean-up has been praised by many as an act of genuine environmental concern.

However, the prevailing sentiment online is one of embarrassment and anger directed at the tourists—mostly implied to be domestic—whose irresponsible actions led to the pollution in the first place.

Social Media Backlash

The video has become a lightning rod for criticism against a perceived lack of civic sense among some travellers visiting India’s tourist spots. Comments poured in, with many users lamenting the degradation of sensitive ecological zones. One particularly sharp reaction that captured the collective frustration was the comment: “Northeast was better when inaccessible.”

This sentiment reflects a growing anxiety among locals and environmental advocates who feel that increased accessibility and the boom of social media-driven tourism are rapidly overwhelming the infrastructure and ecological balance of the region. The desire for picture-perfect destinations often comes without the necessary respect for local environment and rules. Similar concerns were raised in other popular tourist states like Goa, linking the surge in visitors to increased waste and environmental problems.

A Wake-Up Call for Responsibility

The incident forces a critical conversation about the true cost of unregulated tourism. Meghalaya’s economy benefits significantly from its status as an eco-tourism hub, but this benefit is jeopardized when natural treasures are treated carelessly. Local communities in the Northeast, who have long maintained clean villages and conserved their natural resources, are now facing the challenge of managing the waste generated by large influxes of visitors.

The video serves as a powerful, albeit uncomfortable, reminder that the responsibility of preserving a place rests not just with the local government or residents, but equally, if not more so, with the tourists who choose to visit. While the act of the Portuguese tourist is commendable, the need for a foreigner to clean up waste in an Indian natural sanctuary has become a national moment of reflection.

Moving forward, there is a clear call for stricter enforcement of anti-littering laws, better waste management systems at tourist sites, and more importantly, a fundamental shift towards promoting responsible and sustainable travel ethics among all visitors.