NEW DELHI: Heeding to the clarion call by PM Narendra Modi of a Swachh Bharat, the Ministry of Defence joined the cleanliness drive here on Thursday.
The ambitious drive started with the Swachhta pledge by officers of the Army, Navy, IAF and top babus of the MoD in the south block.
In the absence of Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, who is undergoing treatment, G Mohan Kumar, Secretary, Defence Production, addressed the gathering of ministry officials, who were ordered to be present for the function on the Gandhi Jayanti day, a traditional holiday. While, all three service chiefs -- Army chief General Dalbir Singh, Navy chief Admiral Robin Dhowan and IAF chief Arup Raha -- carried out functions at their respective headquarters in the national capital.
On the occasion, Admiral Dhowan said the Navy is committed to preserve environment. The Navy has adopted several green initiatives in all its wings including operations, administration, maintenance, infrastructure and community living, for maintenance and upkeep of all office spaces, residential and community areas. Efforts of the naval community in this regard are manifested in the clean surrounding of naval areas, he said.
An exhaustive Indian Navy ‘Environment Conservation Roadmap’ has also been prepared to be implemented across all operational platforms (ships, submarines and aircraft) and shore establishments.
Some of these include transition to a ‘Green Fleet’, usage of energy from alternate sources, recycling of waste and adoption of bio-fuels. To begin with, some of the naval ferries operating between Naval Dockyard in Mumbai to Karanja will operate on bio-fuels.
Army chief General Dalbir Singh urged all the Armymen to participate in the cleanliness drive. He expressed hope that all the Army personnel and civilians would keep their houses, offices and neighbouring areas clean and hygienic.
On the similar lines, Air Force units and establishments all over the country have embarked upon a cleanliness drive in and around the technical and residential areas, inviting enthusiastic participation by the Air Force schools as well as families of air warriors.