Aviation Week | Bangalore | India | August 20, 2010
The Indian army has launched a massive green campaign, and its effects are even being seen on firing ranges. During a visit to the army’s Madras Engineering Group (MEG) and Center, situated near Bangalore’s famous Ulsoor Lake, AVIATION WEEK saw a slew of green initiatives being implemented right from the entry point.
“We are trying to go totally plastic/polythene-free,” says Lt. Col. Tejpal Singh, head of the Chief Instructor Workshop at MEG. “We are educating the army troops and their families and children. We aim to achieve no-plastic soon. During our monthly interaction with our men, we emphasize the need to spread the mission, including tree [planting].”
The initiative includes the target boards used for practice firing sessions. The MEG has moved away from the conventional wood\hardboard-based targets to ones made out of old and used plastic water tanks. “These water tanks are the most hazardous wastes when out of use,” Singh says. “Earlier we had targets made of wood and cardboard. Now these have become useful for our men at the firing ranges. Depending upon the size of the tanks we could make three-four targets [out of one tank].
