The prestigious India Green Summit 2024 was held at Jhansi Military Station by the Indian Army and the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) in observance of World Earth Day. Lt Gen Prit Pal Singh, AVSM GOC of Sudharshan Chakra Corps, oversaw the conference, which functioned as a forum to exhibit cutting-edge environmental solutions and to foster vital conversations on climate change and sustainable development inside the military infrastructure.
The Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMPTC), Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council (CROPC), India Meteorological Department (IMD), Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), School of Planning and Governance (SPG), and Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC) were among the distinguished organisations that participated in the event, which included attendance from Indian Army and Air Force officers from across the nation. Furthermore, fifteen organizations—among them Tata BlueScope—displayed the most recent innovations in sustainable development, with an emphasis on cutting-edge sustainable building techniques.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IIT Kanpur and the Commander Works Engineer of Jhansi station was signed on Earth Day of last year, hence the significance of the India Green Summit increased. The goal of this innovative partnership is to make Jhansi Military Station carbon neutral, demonstrating the Indian Army and IIT Kanpur’s combined commitment to environmental responsibility.
The summit, which was managed by Progression Global and organised by Colonel Akhil Singh Charak of Military Engineering Services and Professor Rajeev Jindal of IIT Kanpur’s Department of Sustainable Energy Engineering, provided a forum for discussing the benefits of combining technological innovation with environmentally friendly military tactics. The keynote speaker at the event, Maj Gen MK Mathur, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the White Tiger division, emphasised the significance of the green and sustainable takeaways that will direct future military activities towards environmental stewardship.
“The India Green Summit 2024 exemplifies the power of collaboration between academia and the military. By working together, we can develop innovative solutions to ensure a sustainable future for our defense infrastructure. The successful transformation of Jhansi Military Station into a carbon-neutral facility will serve as a model for other military establishments across the country,” said Prof. Rajeev Jindal Department of Sustainable Energy Engineering, IIT Kanpur.
The summit included a number of keynote addresses and lively panel discussions covering important subjects like mitigating the effects of climate change, sustainable building practices, and cutting-edge water and renewable energy technologies designed with military uses in mind. Experts provided participants with insightful information on the real-world application of these technologies in development projects at different Indian military stations.
From Military Engineering Services, Colonel Akhil Singh Charak said, ““The Indian Army prioritises both national security and environmental responsibility. The India Green Summit 2024 served as an invaluable platform for exploring innovative sustainable technologies and building strong partnerships with leading institutions like IIT Kanpur. The knowledge and collaborations forged here will be crucial in achieving our objective of creating environmentally responsible military facilities across India.”
In keeping with national and international environmental goals, the alliances and cooperative initiatives on display at the India Green Summit will continue to operate as a model for other military installations around the country as they embrace similar sustainable practices.
About IIT Kanpur
The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur was founded in 1959 and was designated as an Institute of National Importance by an Act of Parliament passed by the Indian government. The primary reason why IIT Kanpur is renowned are its groundbreaking R&D contributions over the years and the finest calibre of scientific and engineering education it offers. With more than 570 full-time faculty members and about 9000 students, the institute boasts a vast, lush, green campus spanning 1055 acres. It also boasts a large pool of academic and research resources spread across 19 departments, 25 centres, and 3 interdisciplinary programmes in engineering, science, design, humanities, and management.
For more information, visit www.indiagreensummit.com
-Namit Pandey