Status report filed by Ministry of Defence on environmental norms in cantonments and military stations in India in OA No. 451/2019 in the application filed by Air Marshal Anil Chopra in the National Green Tribunal order of December 5, 2019.

Three issues were raised in the application:

1. Environment issues and waste management vis-a-vis armed forces 2. Siachen glacier ecological issues 3. Cantonment and military stations.

Report mentioned that in a meeting taken by Joint Secretary (Land & Works) on November 21, 2019 with the concerned stakeholders, it was decided to forward the draft Solid Waste Management Bye-Laws in respect of Delhi Cantonment Board to the remaining Cantonment Boards as a model and further action for implementation in a time bound manner. The Cantonment Boards have implemented door-to-door garbage collections and disposal of domestic waste in one form or the other, in compliance with solid waste management rules. Each military stations/cantonments or posts located in the forward areas have earmarked one central place for landfills where non bio-degradable waste can be dumped.

As trial measures, bio digestors for disposal of human excrete have been installed in selected posts in Siachen Glacier and transit camp at Leh, Patseo, Karu, Sarchoo, Pang and Partapur. Same are now being replicated at all posts.

Note: Uploaded on February 28, 2020