The Swachh Bharat Mission has crossed 12,000 kilometres of ocean to reach the frozen frontiers of Antarctica. Under the Special Campaign for Disposal of Pending Matters (SCDPM) 6, the winter team of the 45th Indian Scientific Expedition (ISEA) launched a rigorous cleanliness and space-optimisation drive at the Maitri and Bharati stations. The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) confirmed the operation, noting that the commitment to maintaining organised workplaces persists even in the planet’s harshest environment.
The current temperature hovers around -48 degrees Celsius. Scientific Officer Huidrom Nageshwar Singh from the India Meteorological Department leads the 45th ISEA. The winter crew at Bharati Station includes three Indian women—two scientists and one medical doctor—taking over operations after the summer team completed major projects, including cargo delivery and collaboration with Khalifa University scientists from the UAE.
Maitri, established in 1988 on the Schirmacher Oasis, sits at an elevation of 50 metres. It supports 25 personnel in its main building year-round, with capacity expanding to 40 during summer months. Bharati, commissioned in 2012 on the Stornes Peninsula, can house 47 people in its main structure and up to 72 with emergency shelters. Both stations rely on dedicated satellite channels for voice, video, and data connectivity with the Indian mainland.
The drive aims to clear pending logistical and hygiene tasks before the next summer expedition arrives. With the winter team now fully operational, the stations will continue scientific research and maintenance until the summer crew arrives to resume larger-scale projects.