India’s defence land holdings offer considerable potential for large-scale solar energy projects, but security restrictions, grid connectivity and long-term military requirements remain key challenges. At the same time, public institutions can make significant progress towards environmental sustainability by identifying local problems, involving communities and implementing measurable solutions, according to Dr Tanu Jain, Chief Executive Officer of Bareilly Cantonment Board.
Speaking at the 6th Yuva Sustainability Webinar, organised by Voices of Bharat: Yuva for Sustainability on the theme Who Will Build a Sustainable Bharat? Green Skills, AI and the Future of Work, Dr Jain shared insights from Bareilly Cantonment’s journey towards becoming India’s first carbon-negative cantonment.
The discussion also featured questions from Yuva Sustainability Storytellers on solar energy development, sustainable governance and emerging green career opportunities.
Bareilly’s Carbon-Negative Achievement
Bareilly Cantonment achieved carbon-negative status four years ahead of its 2030 carbon-neutrality target, demonstrating how a combination of energy efficiency, carbon sequestration and environmental management can deliver measurable results.
A scientific assessment conducted by TERI School of Advanced Studies estimated the cantonment’s net annual carbon balance at approximately minus 60,386 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, indicating that its assessed carbon sequestration exceeded emissions.
Explaining the approach behind the achievement, Dr Jain emphasised the importance of administrative commitment and a thorough assessment of existing environmental challenges.
“I think it is more about will and examining our own lacunae,” she said.
The first step involved identifying sources of energy consumption and emissions across the cantonment, including air conditioners, fans and vehicles operating on conventional fuels. The administration also assessed the carbon sequestration capacity of the area to understand its overall environmental footprint.
This was followed by energy-efficiency interventions, measures to reduce consumption and regular monitoring of progress.
Public awareness was an equally important component. Dr Jain said the administration spent six to seven months sensitising residents about their environmental responsibilities while implementing institutional measures.
She stressed that environmental sustainability need not depend on large budgets or ambitious projects. Instead, public institutions must first understand the problems they are trying to address.
“We don’t need very big projects to handle, but we need to diagnose the problem,” she said.
River Rejuvenation Through Civil–Defence Cooperation
Dr Jain also highlighted the role of wastewater management and ecological restoration in the cantonment’s environmental initiatives.
These included interventions involving three ponds covering more than 20 acres and the rejuvenation of the Nakatiya River, which stretches approximately 52 kilometres.
According to Dr Jain, a portion of the river passes through defence-controlled land, where restrictions on land use and access initially presented challenges for restoration work. After securing the necessary permissions, the administration initiated river-cleaning and plantation activities. She said approximately 10 lakh vetiver slips and 50,000 trees were planted within a month along the river and its banks.
The initiative involved coordination with the state government, Nagar Nigam and other agencies responsible for managing the river.
Responding to a question on how defence institutions approach sustainable development differently from civilian governance bodies, Dr Jain maintained that their fundamental environmental objectives remain the same.
While defence establishments face additional restrictions concerning land and security, she said cooperation between defence and civilian authorities could help address environmental challenges that extend beyond administrative boundaries.
Defence Land Offers Solar Potential, but Challenges Remain
During the interactive session, Yuva Sustainability Storyteller Kushagra Mishra, who has studied Environmental Law and Policy at National Law University, Delhi, raised the issue of utilising vacant defence land for renewable energy development.
“India has a lot of vacant defence land. How much scope do you see for using some of it for large-scale solar projects, and what do you think is the main hurdle in implementing that?” he asked.
Responding to his question, Dr Jain said that although India has substantial defence land holdings, the availability of land does not necessarily establish its suitability for solar installations. There are approximately 17.53 lakh acres of defence land, she said that the government is exploring opportunities to utilise suitable parcels for renewable energy projects.
According to her, larger land parcels of 500 to 1,000 acres were being considered for solar installations. However, grid connectivity remains a significant challenge, particularly when new solar plants are proposed in areas without adequate supporting infrastructure.
Another important consideration is the long-term availability of land. Defence establishments may require the same parcels for future battalions, military units or other operational purposes. Land-use permissions also differ within the defence sector, while security considerations can restrict development in border areas and strategically sensitive locations.
Dr Jain said a practical approach was being pursued to identify land parcels unlikely to be needed for long-term military purposes and assess their suitability for solar projects.
Her response highlighted the need to balance renewable energy development with defence preparedness, infrastructure availability and land management requirements.
Civil Services Not the Only Pathway into Sustainable Governance
The discussion also explored how young people can build careers in environmental governance.
Yuva Sustainability Storyteller Kanika Garg, a BSc Chemistry (Honours) student at Miranda House, University of Delhi, originally from Dehradun, Uttarakhand, asked whether civil services were the primary route for young people aspiring to work in sustainable governance.
“If a young person wants to work in sustainable governance, is the civil service the main route, or are there other ways to enter the field?” she asked.
Dr Jain responded that civil services represent only one of several possible pathways. Drawing on her experience of serving in Dehradun for three years, she noted the contribution of environmental activists and individuals working independently towards conservation and environmental protection.
She encouraged young people to identify the environmental issues that interest them and explore opportunities to address them professionally.
Environmental entrepreneurship, waste management, hydrology, environmental sciences and non-governmental organisations were among the career options she highlighted.
Dr Jain also identified climate finance as an area offering professional opportunities, referring to the Green Climate Fund and the growing importance of financing environmental and climate-related initiatives.
She emphasised that young people should consider two factors while choosing a career: their area of interest and the environmental problems that require solutions on the ground.
Green Skills Must Bridge the Gap Between Education and Employment
The question of employability was further explored through a question from Yuva Sustainability Storyteller Sara Khan, a student of Sociology and Political Science from Uttar Pradesh.
Her question focused on the green skills young people should begin developing to improve their opportunities in public administration and governance.
“What green skills should young people start building today to improve their opportunities to work in public administration and governance?” she asked through the moderated session.
Responding to the question, Dr Jain drew attention to the gap between formal education and practical employability.
Referring to her doctoral research in skill development and women’s empowerment, she observed that educational qualifications do not always equip young people with the skills required in the workplace.
She emphasised the importance of developing sector-specific expertise based on individual interests and emerging employment opportunities.
Hydrology and water resource management could provide pathways for those interested in water conservation, while waste management could offer opportunities for entrepreneurship.
Dr Jain particularly highlighted the growing demand for technically skilled professionals in renewable energy. With solar and wind energy installations expanding, she pointed to the need for trained personnel capable of supporting the installation, operation and maintenance of renewable energy facilities. Such practical capabilities, she suggested, could provide young people with professional opportunities as India expands its clean energy infrastructure.
Local Action, Institutional Commitment and Youth Participation
Throughout the discussion, Dr Jain emphasised that environmental sustainability requires a combination of institutional will, public participation, technical expertise and coordinated action.
She also expressed concern that environmental initiatives often receive insufficient priority in corporate social responsibility spending, despite the need for greater investment in sustainability.
Bareilly Cantonment’s experience offers an example of how public institutions can integrate energy efficiency, ecological restoration, carbon sequestration and community engagement into their operations.
At the same time, the discussion on defence land demonstrated that expanding renewable energy infrastructure requires careful consideration of operational requirements, security concerns and grid availability.
For young people, the conversation highlighted career opportunities beyond traditional public administration, particularly in renewable energy, environmental research, climate finance, waste management and entrepreneurship.
Dr Jain’s broader message was that effective environmental governance begins with identifying problems, understanding local requirements and developing practical solutions through collective effort.
“If there is a problem, there is a solution,” she said, underscoring the importance of action-oriented approaches to environmental sustainability.