The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has constructed a road using steel slag, a waste product of steel manufacturing thereby promoting waste to wealth and “Save Earth,” initiatives, Defence Ministry officials said here on Thursday.

Giving details, they said the Department of Defence is into the third week of the implementation phase (02-31 Oct, 2023) of the Special Campaign 3.0 along with the concomitant Swachhata Abhiyan. 

As part of the best practices deployed during the ongoing campaign , the BRO has constructed a road using steel slag, a waste byproduct of steel manufacturing. A one km long Joram-Koloriang Road in Arunachal Pradesh has been constructed using 1200 MT steel slag as part of Waste to Wealth Initiative.

Alive to the call to “Save Earth”, the BRO has also taken initiative for development of road infrastructure using plastic waste in the high altitude  area of Sanku at Ladakh,  which makes roads more durable, cost effective and environment-friendly.

As regards the special campaign undertaken by the Department of Defence, officials said it may be recalled that during the preparatory phase of the Special Campaign 3.0, the department  had identified a total of 3066 locations/sites across India where the Swachhata Abhiyan with people-centric engagement is to be undertaken.

These locations pertain to various organisations such as Controller General of Defence Accounts, Border Roads Organisation, Military Hospitals, Directorate General of National Cadet Corps, Indian Coast Guard, Sainik Schools, Canteen Stores Department and the Cantonments. At the close of business on Wednesday, 1,832 such sites had already been covered.

A total number of 28,859 such files were already reviewed till Wednesday and 16,485 such files are proposed to be weeded out.  At the close of business on 18.10.23, a total of 92,850 square feet of space has been freed and revenue of Rs 55.43 Crore has been generated by way of  auction of condemned vehicles and disposal of other scrap and obsolete items.

As part of the best practices deployed during the ongoing Campaign , Cantonment Board Dehradun has started “Polythene Kachra Bank” in Dehradun Cantonment area for disposal of polythene waste.

The polythene waste i.e. chips wrapper, polythene packing bags, polythene sacks etc is purchased at Rs 03/- per kg from the people. The collection centres for Polythene Kachra Banks have been installed at three sites in the Cantonment area.

The polythene waste collected is then used for manufacturing High Density Composite Polymer (HDCP) tiles, boards etc. The Cantonment Board purchases minimum 70 tons to maximum 100 tons of polythene waste every month.

People can store polythene waste in the corner of their house and go to the nearest “Polythene Kachra Bank” any day of the month for sale of polythene waste.  Apart from this the polythene waste can also be given to the person collecting garbage from home.