Siachen, war zone to waste zone

The Indian army does its best to keep Siachen clean and green but the presence of thousands of troops produces a massive amount of waste, disposing which is a challenge.

Some studies say the glacier, which feeds the Nubra, Shyok and Indus rivers and holds around 100 million acres of fresh water resources, is melting at a rate of 10.1 metres every year but experts are split on the findings.

“Siachen is retreating but it is not melting at an alarming rate. The front portion of the glacier—the snout—is retreating,” says M N Kaul, principal investigator for the Jammu University’s Glaciology Project.

Glaciologist and former vice chancellor of Calicut University Professor Syed Iqbal Hasnain doesn’t agree with that view. Hasnain says 35 percent of Siachen has already melted and the place will be a garbage dump by 2050.

The sub zero temperatures at the glacier prevent human waste from decomposing easily. Scientists tried out bio-digester bacteria but the experiment failed.

Colonel D K Shrivasatava, a senior officer posted in Siachen, says the army now plans to put the waste in bins and carry them to a place where it can be disposed of properly.

Presently, garbage and human waste are packed in tins and jerry cans which are then dumped in pits. Last year, choppers brought back 100 tonnes of garbage from Siachen but at the base camp most of the waste is shoved in pits. The troops burn what they can but metallic, non-biodegradable waste lies around in the pits.

Green soldiers

The Army started the Clean and Green Siachen drive to save the glacier—an effort for which it won the Green Governance Award from the Bombay Natural Historical Society.

Each soldier plants a sapling at the base camp as part of the Clean and Green Siachen drive. Havaldar Ashok and his group are proud for the bit of greenery they have brought to Siachen. “We planted trees before we got inducted. We will not be able to see the greenery but it is for the next units to come,” says Ashok.

Environmentalists have been pushing the Indian and Pakistani governments to convert Siachen into a peace park. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh too has proposed setting up a Siachen Peace Park, making the glacier a troop-free zone and allowing access to mountaineers, scientists and environmentalists.

Strategic expert Amitabh Matoo, who is a member PM’s task force on global strategic developments, says peace park is a “great idea”.

The Indian Army argues Siachen is the buffer India needs between Pakistan And China. Siachen is located between Pakistan and the Shaksgam Valley (also called Aksai Chin) which Pakistan illegally acceded to China in 1963.

“Today we are dominating the Siachen glacier in totality. Pakistan doesn’t have an edge over us anywhere. There is no compulsion on us to withdraw, and the area provides us tremendous amount of experience in fighting on high altitudes,” says Lt General HS Panag, GOC-in-C Northern Command.

The Siachen talks between India and Pakistan have failed to cut ice. India wants Pakistan to acknowledge the gains it has made and accept the 110-km long actual ground position before any troop withdrawal. Pakistan has rejected the demand.

“Demarcation has been done and it should be authenticated by both the sides. The agreement has to be binding,” says Lt General Panag.

Military disengagement at this terrain will be the ultimate test of India and Pakistan’s diplomacy. Control over Siachen glacier gives neither country military advantage. It is an assertion of sovereignty. From a mutually acceptable demilitarisation to the demand of scientists and environmentalists to make Siachen a peace park, there are a host of ideas doing the rounds.

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#Siachen #Indian Army #Environment #Waste Disposal