ECO TASK FORCE (ETF)
Alarmed at the ecological degradation taking place in the Shivaliks, Dr Norman Borlough an eminent environmentalist from Wheat and Maize Centre, Mexico recommended to the former Prime Minister of India, Late Mrs Indira Gandhi, to involve Indian Army to restore the ecological balance on a war footing. This idea led to the raising of first Eco Task Force (ETF) Battalion i.e.s 127 Inf Bn (TA) Eco, Garhwal Rifles in the year 1982 comprising Ex-servicemen. ETF Battalions are raised under the aegis of Ministry of Environment and Forests & Climate Change (MoEF & CC) and by the Ministry of Defence in conjunction with States for ecological assignments in the fragile and sensitive areas. These Bns are popularly referred as the Eco Tasks Force (ETF) Bns.
Based on the success achieved, more ETF Battalions (TA) were raised. As on date there are Ten ETF Battalions (TA) with 25 operational companies. Six ETF Bns (TA) with 14 companies are funded by MoEF&CC. Three ETF Battalions with Eight companies are funded by various State Govts. One Composite Ecological Task Force Battalion with Three companies is funded by Ministry of Water Resource, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR, RD & GR). The details are as under:
| Ser |
Unit |
No of Covs |
Loc |
Funded by |
| MoEF&CC |
| (a) |
(a) 127 Inf Bn (TA) Eco, GARH RIF |
02 |
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) |
MoEF & CC |
| (b) |
(b) 128 Inf Bn (TA) Eco, RAJ RIF |
03 |
Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) |
|
| (c) |
(c) 129 Inf Bn (TA) Eco, JAK LI |
01 |
Samba (J&K) |
|
| (d) |
130 Inf Bn (TA) Eco, KUMAON |
02 |
Pithoragarh (Uttrakhand) |
|
| (e) |
134 Inf Bn (TA), Eco, ASSAM |
03 |
Sonitpur (Assam) |
|
| (f) |
135 Inf Bn (TA) Eco, ASSAM |
03 |
Kokrajhar (Assam) |
|
| Ser |
Unit |
No of Covs |
Loc |
Funded by |
| State Govts Funded |
| (a) |
127 Inf Bn (TA) Eco, GARH RIF |
02 |
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) |
State Govt of UK |
| (b) |
130 Inf Bn (TA) Eco, KUMAON |
02 |
Pithoragarh (Uttrakhand) |
|
| (c) |
132 Inf Bn (TA) Eco, RAJPUT |
1 |
Bhatti Mines (Delhi) |
State Govt of Delhi |
| (d) |
133 Inf Bn (TA) Eco, DOGRA |
2 |
Kufri (Himachal Pradesh) |
State Govt of HP |
| (e) |
136 Inf Bn (TA) Eco, MAHAR |
1 |
Aurangabad (Maharashtra) |
State Govt of Maharashtra |
|
| NMCG Funded |
| (a) |
137 CETF Bn (TA),39 GR |
3 |
Allahabad (Utter Pradesh) |
MoWR,RD & GR (NMCG) |
Achievements.
Since raising these units have planted 09.35 Cr trees as per the under mentioned details:-
| Ser |
Unit |
State |
Plantation (In Lakhs) |
Total Area Covered (In HA) |
| (a) |
127 INF BN (TA) ECO |
Uttarakhand |
190 |
22301 |
| (b) |
128 INF BN (TA) ECO |
Rajasthan |
193.11 |
20979 |
| (c) |
129 INF BN (TA) ECO |
J&K |
48.2 |
6013 |
| (d) |
130 INF BN (TA) ECO |
Uttarakhand |
235.99 |
21084 |
| (e) |
132 INF BN (TA) ECO |
Delhi |
43 |
3861.11 |
| (f) |
133 INF BN (TA) ECO |
HP |
59.28 |
5747 |
| (g) |
134 INF BN (TA) ECO |
Assam |
84.31 |
5311.3 |
| (h) |
135 INF BN (TA) ECO |
Assam |
71.25 |
9263 |
| (j) |
136 INF BN (TA) ECO |
Aurangabad |
10.26 |
752.54 |
| Total |
935.4 |
95311.95 |
For their contribution these units from time to time have been bestowed with
the fwg National & International awards:-
| Ser |
Award |
Year |
Remarks |
| (a) |
Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar CII Green Award |
1992, 2009 & 2011 |
|
| (b) |
CII Green Award |
2006 |
|
| (c) |
Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra |
1989 & 2000 |
|
| (d) |
Times of India Social Impact Award |
2011 |
|
| (e) |
Guinness Book of World Record |
2012 |
|
| (f) |
Appreciation Assam Govt |
2013 & 2014 |
|
| (g) |
Limca World Record |
2013, 2015 & 2019 |
|
| (h) |
Paryavaran Sankrashan Award |
2015 |
|
| (j) |
Earth Care Award |
2012 & 2018 |
|
| (k) |
World Record Unique Book |
2015 |
|
| (I) |
Green Leaf Award |
2015 |
|
| (m) |
Citation by Govt of Rajasthan |
2020 |
|