Trishakti Corps celebrates World Environment Day with inauguration of plastic waste management plant in Sikkim

The Trishakti Corps of the Indian Army marked World Environment Day with a series of "Go Green Initiatives" across North Bengal and Sikkim, highlighted by the inauguration of a state-of-the-art Plastic Waste Management and Recycling Plant in the border village of Changgu, East Sikkim.

This initiative, part of the Army’s Sadbhavana project, aims to revolutionize waste management practices, promote environmental sustainability, and provide economic benefits to the local community.

Changgu, a popular tourist destination in East Sikkim, faces significant waste management challenges due to the high volume of visitors. The increasing plastic waste, previously transported over 90 km to Burdang for disposal, necessitated a sustainable solution. Responding to this need, the Trishakti Corps established the recycling plant under "Operation Sadbhavana." The facility features a shredder capable of processing 300 kg of plastic per hour and a bale press machine that produces 8-10 plastic bricks per hour. These innovations will reduce pollution, minimize landfill use, and prevent plastic contamination of soil and waterways by transforming waste into valuable raw materials for new products.

A key aspect of the project is its impact on local livelihoods. By involving villagers in every stage of the waste management process, from collection to recycling and manufacturing, the project creates employment and fosters economic resilience and self-reliance within the community.

The Indian Army is also addressing climate change through various environmentally sustainable initiatives, including solid waste management, the induction of electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell technology, and the construction of eco-friendly buildings. The "Apashisht Mukt Sainya Abhiyan" (AMSA) launched in October 2023 aims to make the army landfill-free by March 2027, in compliance with the Government's Solid Waste Management Rules 2016.

Senior officials from the Sikkim Forest Department and local residents praised the Trishakti Corps for transforming the plastic waste challenge into an opportunity for community development and environmental protection. These initiatives underscore the Indian Army's commitment to sustainable development, fostering trust and cooperation with local communities.

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