All 61 Cantts of country set to be transformed under Viksit Bharat
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 24: Shillong Cantonment Board is set to be transformed into a “Smart Cantonment” on the lines of the “Smart City” initiative.
Under the plan, a key objective is to make the Cantonment crime-free. Moreover, Shillong Cantonment will focus on waste management through the “waste-to-wealth” concept, ensuring that waste is processed by the Board itself instead of being sent to outside landfills.
This transformation is set to take place in all 61 Cantonments in the country. The concept was initiated during a two-day conference chaired by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Speaking on the development, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shillong Cantonment Board, Ayush Maurya, said the transformation is aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Highlighting the eco-friendly focus, Maurya said that since Cantonment areas are greener, efforts will be made to increase afforestation and eventually make them carbon-positive. If achieved, the Board could earn international carbon credits worth Rs 100-200 crore.
The Board is also promoting renewable energy. All government offices within the Shillong Cantonment have already been equipped with solar panels, and there are plans to extend their use to residential areas. A vision document for the Smart Cantonment is expected to be released by December this year.
Currently, the Shillong Cantonment relies on the Shillong Municipal Board’s dumping facility. However, the CEO expressed optimism that within a year, the Cantonment will manage all its own waste and ensure that not a single load goes outside its jurisdiction.
On the security front, CCTV cameras have been installed in government offices in the Cantonment area, with further plans to cover Jhalupara and Paltan Bazar.
The Board also intends to work with the state government to develop parks and footpaths, with 2-3 new parks planned in civilian areas.
Additionally, an in-house committee has been set up to address key issues such as water scarcity, parking shortages, and hawking in localities like Jhalupara.
