Col B S Nagial (Retd)
The “Environment” comprises all entities, natural or artificial, external to oneself, and their interrelationships, which provide value to humankind now or perhaps in the future. Environmental concerns relate to their degradation through the actions of human beings. The current environmental situation causes a significant threat to the planet earth. The challenges caused by Global Warming has made the policymakers concerned and plans to get control of the problem. Across all the sections of the country, there has been recognition of the vital role natural resources play in providing livelihoods and securing life support ecological services.
Indian Army, since independence, has been the protector of the nation in all walks of life. Indian Army has taken the commitment of environment conservation. Its contribution to the National efforts for environment conservation has been recognised many times. The men in Olive Greens have continually made nature their companion and have by tradition subscribed to its conservation and growth. Plush Green Cantonments and Military Stations flourishing with local flora and fauna are the few examples of preserving nature.
The early 80s were a difficult and challenging period for the delicate ecology of the Shivalik Ranges. The Crowned head of the Shivalik Hills-Mussorie was on the brim of the losing side to its primaeval grandeur due to the mindless and illegitimate mining of limestone. The unsystematic mining activity in the area escalated the rate of desertification. Startled at the environmental dilapidation in the Shivaliks Hills, Dr Norman Borlough, from Wheat and Maize Centre, Mexico, proposed to the former Prime Minister of India, Late Mrs Indira Gandhi, to encompass the Indian Army to bring back the ecological steadiness on a war footing. As the regular Indian Army could not be employed for the mission, it was agreed that a Territorial Army Unit would be raised to enrol veterans from the region on a Home and Hearth basis with the dual aim of re-settlement of Ex-Servicemen and rejuvenation of ecology. So the first Ecological Task Force Battalion was raised on Dec1, 1982. At present, ten such Infantry Battalions (TA) Ecological carry out afforestation activities in rugged and ecological degraded areas in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, J & K, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Assam Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
Ecological Task Force Battalions have been raised under the aegis of the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Ministry of Defense in conjunction with states on priority tasks for challenging assignments in the ecologically fragile and sensitive areas. The objective behind starting ETFs was to solve the twin problems of eco – regeneration and rehabilitation of veterans. These Bns use the technical expertise of the particular State Forest Departments (SFD) where they are located to carry out the afforestation and environment-related activities. As per the latest information available so far, all ETF Battalions have planted roughly 6.90 crore saplings and covered an area of 72,761 hectares of land, with a 65-70 per cent of survival rate. Various authorities have recognised their exemplary contribution to ecology and have been conferred with various National and State level awards.
Functions of the Ecological Task Force of TA
The ETFBns have been primarily raised to work in co-operation with the State Government and the various coordination agencies supervising the task. Their system of functioning is as follows:
(i) The Ministry of Environment and Forests assignment ecological restoration work.
(ii) Technical supervision and guidance are provided by the respectively State Forest Departments.
(iii)All inputs regarding establishment and maintenance of ETFBns provided by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and plants fencing and other material is provided by the concerned State Forest Departments.
(iv) Administrative control is provided by the local army formation in the area.
Raising of ETF Bn of Territorial Army in Jammu
One ETF Bn of Territorial Army was raised on June 29, 1988, and functional by mid-1989.Seeing the degree of degradation in the area and the enormous force of workers required for restoring the natural resource base, it was felt that only the Army could take on the arduous task and do desired justice to it.As per the State Forest Department of Jammu and Kashmir, this task force was assigned the task to control soil erosion and ecological restoration by way of converting the scrub vegetation into plantations of indigenous species and with allied activities associated with the plantation work like soil and moisture conservation works and entry point activities.Furthermore, to encourage and involve the local forest fringe communities.
The unit functions as a joint venture between the Ministery of Environment and Forest, Ministry of Defence and J&K Forest Department. The ETF Bn’s functioning is planned to work closely with the J&K Forest Department through its designated officer/ Nodal Officer as DFO-ETF and various agencies supervising the task. J&K Forest Department provides technical supervision and guidance. All technical inputs required for the implementation of the project are provided by the J&K Forest Department, along with materials for fencing and plantations.
As per the latest detail available with J&K Forest Department, the achievements of the ETF Bn are: Since its raising in 1989, the ETF Bn has managed to treat nearly 5500 Ha of denuded, degraded, erosion-prone and wastelands in four catchments of important rivers in the districts of Jammu, Samba &Kathua.In the last two years, 245 ha area has been treated with the planting of about 1,50,000 plants in the catchment of Ravi to treat degraded weed-infested and encroachment prone areas.
Certain benefits accrued
Social benefits from the project have been immense. Most importantly, the ex-servicemen of the region have got re-employment. Besides this, the community has taken up other benefits like grass fodder at the doorstep and fallen twigs from the plantation sites.
Natural regeneration has been good in the area. In older plantations, luxuriant growth of regenerated endemic trees, shrubs and herbs species (Chir, Ber, Karonda, Currypatta, Kamel, Kakowa, Chila, Gadila etc.). Due to the good natural regeneration of local plant species, the entire area seems like a thick green carpet.
It is a well-known fact that the thick crown cover and ground vegetation improve soil health very well-good organic materialfound in the forest floor of old plantation sites. It will not only improve the physical properties of soil even improve the chemical properties of the soil.
Conclusion:
The ecological restoration work carried out by the Eco-Task Forces deserves to be commended as the ex-servicemen who once served the nation with tanks and guns have now once again served the nation with spades and that too in challenging areas.The ecological and social impacts of the project activities carried out by the personals of all four battalions have been beneficial. Re-vegetation of the area has led to an increase in humidity, reduction in day temperature, improvement in ground vegetation, checking of dune movement, wind velocity and improving the habitat of local fauna.
It is recommended that each state should have one such Ecological Task Force. Since men of these Bns are physically fit, mentally robust, and well trained; therefore they can be co-opted with Disaster Management activities.
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