Army to raise ecological battalions for Ganga Rejuvenation Plan

The ministry of defence has given an in-principle approval for raising four battalions of territorial army (TA) that will aid Narendra Modi's government's 'Ganga Rejuvenation Plan'. An MoD official said that the decision is being taken after getting a request from the ministry of water resources in this regard.

"These new ecological (eco) -battalion will comprise ex-servicemen and will be involved in the process of planting tress, soil conservation and desalination," said the official who did not wish to be named.

He also added that the officers commanding these battalions will be from the regular Army. However, while the working ethos of the eco-TA will be similar to army, for tasking resources, it will work under the water resources ministry.

One battalion of the territorial army will have 700-800 personnel. A proposal was first floated in this regard in July 2014.

The army already has eight eco-task forces deployed across the country for environmental conservation purposes. These are being funded by the ministry of environment and forests and the respective state forest departments.

For the four battalions to be raised for Ganga rejuvenation, the funding and other administrative issues are being worked out, said the official.