63 tonne garbage removed from Siachen since 2014, says Army

Troops posted in the Siachen glacier have sent back to the base more than 63 tonne garbage since 2014 -- the year "Swachh Bharat Mission" was launched, the Indian Army said on Tuesday.

These loads of garbage included packing material, barrels and perishables, an army statement said.

On arrival to disposal areas, the trash was buried in deep trenches dug mechanically in areas which are not on run of rivers and where landmass is not fragile.

"Siachen, the highest battlefield in the world, is a place where everything is ferried from the hinterland. It is a logistic challenge to move all types of waste out of the glacier, so that these do not become environmental hazard," the statement said.

A huge amount of garbage has been brought back through man-pack loads, porters, ponies and sometimes returning helicopter ferries.

"Army continues to take steps to ensure hygiene at the highest battlefield...," it said.

Working in close coordination with civil administration, students and locals, the troops of Ibex Brigade launched another drive in the border areas of Garhwal region under the recently conceived "Swacchata Hi Sewa" campaign. It will serve as a major awareness programme in the area.

The areas to be covered under the campaign range from the icy peaks of Mt. Kamet, border villages such as Niti, Malari and Manaand, and places of pilgrimage like Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.

The soldiers would work in coordination with civil administration and locals to address garbage collection, plastic disposal, clearing drains and setting an example to achieve the goals of the campaign, the statement added.

A major cleanliness drive has been launched along the popular tourist tracks of Kedarnath, Bhavishyabadri and in enroute transit towns of Rudraparyag, Joshimath, Harsil and Gaurikund, aimed towards waste disposal and management and conserving precious water sources involving local priests, pilgrims, temple administration, municipality, police and local trade unions, among others.

--IANS

ao/nir