Lok Sabha Question No. 1172 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-28
Subject: Eco Task Force
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Kanakmal Katara

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1172

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.06.2019

## Eco Task Force

## 1172. SHRI KANAKMAL KATARA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of deployment of eco-task force battalions which are presently engaged in protection of environment, State-wise;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  working  on  any  plan  for  better  utilization  of  new technology so as to enhance the capacity as well as efficiency of the said battalions;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to raise more battalions in coordination with the State agencies in future; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE    IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

- (a) At  present,  there  are  ten    Eco  Task  Force  (ETF)  Battalions,  engaged  in  the  work  of environmental protection at different locations of the country out of which establishment cost of six ETF Battalions are being funded by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).  The State-wise deployment of these Battalions is given in Annexure.
- (b) & (c) ETF Battalions have adopted several effective measures to enhance the capacity and  work  quality  of  the  ETF    by  employing  new  technology  likedripand  sprinkler irrigation, root trainer technology, pro-tray technology, bio andvermin composting, mist chambers, green and poly houses etc. in their work.
- (d) & (e) The Ministry of Defence considers the raising of ETF  Battalion if the concerned authority i.e. State Government or Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change etc. make firm commitment to bear the entire expenditure in respect of the proposed ETF Battalion.  The  State  Governments  have  been  encouraged  and  advised  to  raise  ETF Battalions  from  their  own  funding  with  technical  support  of  the  Forest  Department  as has been done by the States like Delhi, Himachal Pradeshand Maharashtra.

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## Annexure

Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) of the Lok SabhaUnstarred Question No. 1172 on 'Eco Task Force' asked by Shri Kanakmal Katara due for reply on 28.06.2019

## DETAILS OF STATE-WISE LOCATIONS OF ECO TASK FORCE BATTALIONS

|   Sl. No. | Name of Unit                 | Location                  |
|-----------|------------------------------|---------------------------|
|         1 | 127 InfBn (TA) Eco. GARH RIF | Dehradun (Uttarakhand)    |
|         2 | 128 InfBn (TA) Eco. RAJ RIF  | Jaisalmer (Rajasthan)     |
|         3 | 129 InfBn (TA) Eco. JAK LI   | Samba ( Jammu &Kashmir)   |
|         4 | 130 InfBn (TA) Eco. KUMAON   | Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand) |
|         5 | 132 InfBn (TA) Eco. RAJPUR   | Bhatti Mines (Delhi)      |
|         6 | 133 InfBn (TA) Eco. DOGRA    | Kufri (Himachal Pradesh)  |
|         7 | 134 InfBn (TA) Eco. ASSAM    | Tezpur (Assam)            |
|         8 | 135 InfBn (TA) Eco. ASSAM    | Kokrajhar (Assam)         |
|         9 | 136 InfBn (TA) Eco. MAHAR    | Aurangabad (Maharashtra)  |
|        10 | 137 CETFBn (TA) 39 GR        | Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) |