When in green battle fatigues, ‘they’ made enemies feel chills go down their spines. In peacetime army veterans are painting the mountains ‘green’ with flying colours.

Green Warriors of 127 Ecological Task Force, Territorial Army, Garhwal Rifles have delivered exceptional work in the restoration of fragile ecosystem in Garhwal Himalayas. Simultaneously, they are also offering excellent opportunity for Army veterans to contribute in nation building.

The battalions 127 ETF (TA), Garhwal Rifles were raised to execute specific ecology related projects, with military like work culture and commitment, enrolling ex-Servicemen. ETF Battalions (TA) use technical expertise of the State Forest Department, for afforestation related activities and promote environment.

In the last 40 years, 127 ETF, recruited more than 1200 ex-servicemen of Uttarakhand state and successfully planted close to 2 crore plants in Garhwal region since its inception in December 1982 at Garhwal Rifles Regimental Centre, Lansdowne. 

“We have instructed Horticulture Department to provide six polyhouses, out of which four polyhouses would be set up in project areas and two polyhouses would be set up in battalion headquarters,” Chief Minister Uttarakhand Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami said after flagging off a fleet vehicles handed over to 127 ETF by Uttarakhand government on Thursday. The fleet consists of two multi-utility vehicles and 10 motorcycles provided by Uttarakhand Horticulture department.

The ex-soldiers planted saplings in 20,698 hectares of land in Tehri, Chamoli, Dehradun, and border areas of Mana and Malari. The early eighties were a trying and testing time for the fragile ecology of the Shivalik Ranges. The Queen of Hills-Mussoorie was on the brink of losing its pristine splendour, due to the unscientific and illegal mining of limestone. The unorganised mining activity in the area, intensified the rate of deforestation in an unprecedented manner. But tireless efforts by 127 ETF TA not only reversed the damage but since then help maintain a fragile ecological equilibrium in the region.

Impressed with the work, Uttarakhand government has generously extended its support with water storage tank capacity of 50 thousand liters to be constructed under Jal Jeevan Mission at Sahiya, Kasyali and battalion headquarters of Eco Task Force. Also, an irrigation system will be set up in 10 nurseries manned by Eco Task Force. Additional provisions are also made to install 100 kW solar panels by Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (URDA) at Dehradun, Sahiya and Kasyali project sites.

The Chief Minster assured priority and full support to proposals of the Eco Task Force by all state government departments.

Presently, there are nine Infantry Battalions (TA) Ecological, comprising 22 operational companies, are carrying out afforestation in difficult and degraded areas in States of Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, J & K, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Assam and Maharashtra. Himalayan Live Bureau

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