Lok Sabha Question No. 349 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-18
Subject: Eco Task Force
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Daggumalla Prasada Rao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 349

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025

## Eco Task Force

## 349*. SHRI DAGGUMALLA PRASADA RAO:

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

- (a) the  details  regarding  the  total  number  of  Eco-Task  Forces  supported  by  the Government, State/UT-wise;
- (b) the details of the number and type of restoration activities and projects undertaken by such Task Forces along with their physical progress, State/UT-wise;
- (c) the details of the funds allocated and disbursed to each of these Task Forces during the last five years, year-wise; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to establish additional Task Forces and if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)

(a) to (d).   A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 349 REGARDING ECO  TASK  FORCE  BY  SHRI  DAGGUMALLA  PRASADA  RAO  FOR REPLY ON 18.08.2025.

- (a) Eco-Task  Forces  (ETFs)  were  raised  in  1982  under  the  aegis  of  the  Ministry  of Environment  &  Forests  and  the  Ministry  of  Defence,  in  conjunction  with  State Governments,  for  undertaking  challenging  assignments  in  ecologically  fragile  and sensitive  areas  under  the  Eco-Development  Forces  (EDF)  Scheme,  with  the  twin objectives of ecological restoration and rehabilitation of ex-servicemen. The scheme is  being  administered  by  the  National  Afforestation  and  Eco-Development  Board (NAEB) of the Ministry since 2007. At present, six ETF Battalions are supported by the Ministry. They are 127 Infantry Battalion (TA) and 130 Infantry Battalion (TA) in Uttarakhand, 128 Infantry Battalion (TA) in Rajasthan, 129 Infantry Battalion (TA) in Jammu & Kashmir, and 134 Infantry Battalion (TA) and 135 Infantry Battalion (TA) in Assam. Details of the 6 battalions may please be seen at Annexure - I .
- (b) The  ETF  battalions  undertake  afforestation  and  related  activities  in  degraded  and fragile  areas  with  difficult  terrain  such  as,  afforestation  and pasture  development works  in  the Thar  Desert  of  Rajasthan,  checking,  controlling,  and  reversing ecological  degradation  in  the  Shivalik  Himalayas  through  afforestation  and  soil conservation works as being done in Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir and also restoring degraded  forests in Assam.  These  efforts are aimed  at addressing environmental  challenges  in  diverse  and  sensitive  regions  of  the  country,  with particular  emphasis  on  improving  vegetation  cover,  preventing  soil  erosion,  and restoring  degraded  areas.  ETF  Battalions  have  also  adopted  effective  measures  to enhance  the  capacity  and  work  quality  of  the  ETF  by  employing  new  emerging technologies like drip & sprinkler irrigation, bio & vermi-composting in their works. Details of Physical progress of the works undertaken by the ETF may please be seen at Annexure-II .
- (c) The details regarding the fund allocated and disbursed to 6 ETF Battalions viz., 127 Inf. Bn. (TA) and 130 Inf.  Bn. (TA) in Uttarakhand, 128 Inf. Bn. in Rajasthan, 129 Inf. Bn. in Jammu & Kashmir, 134 Inf.  Bn. & 135 Inf.  Bn. in Assam during the last five years is at Annexure-III .
- (d) At present, there is no proposal to establish additional Eco-Task Forces.

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Annexure-I Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 349 regarding 'Eco Task Force' raised by Shri Daggumalla Prasada Rao due for reply on 18.08.2025.

|   Sl. No. | Name of Battalion   | State          | Location               |
|-----------|---------------------|----------------|------------------------|
|         1 | 127 ETF             | Uttarakhand    | Tehri Garhwal district |
|         2 | 128 ETF             | Rajasthan      | Jaisalmer district     |
|         3 | 129 ETF             | Jammu& Kashmir | Samba district         |
|         4 | 130 ETF             | Uttarakhand    | Pithoragarh district   |
|         5 | 134 ETF             | Assam          | Sonitpur district      |
|         6 | 135 ETF             | Assam          | Kokrajhar district     |

Annexure-II Annexure referred to in reply of part (b) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 349 regarding 'Eco Task Force' raised by Shri Daggumalla Prasada Rao due for reply on 18.08.2025.

| Statement showing Physical Achievement of ETF Battalions during 2020-21 to 2024-25 (Continuing ETF Scheme)   | Statement showing Physical Achievement of ETF Battalions during 2020-21 to 2024-25 (Continuing ETF Scheme)   | Statement showing Physical Achievement of ETF Battalions during 2020-21 to 2024-25 (Continuing ETF Scheme)   | Statement showing Physical Achievement of ETF Battalions during 2020-21 to 2024-25 (Continuing ETF Scheme)   | Statement showing Physical Achievement of ETF Battalions during 2020-21 to 2024-25 (Continuing ETF Scheme)   | Statement showing Physical Achievement of ETF Battalions during 2020-21 to 2024-25 (Continuing ETF Scheme)   | Statement showing Physical Achievement of ETF Battalions during 2020-21 to 2024-25 (Continuing ETF Scheme)   | Statement showing Physical Achievement of ETF Battalions during 2020-21 to 2024-25 (Continuing ETF Scheme)   | Statement showing Physical Achievement of ETF Battalions during 2020-21 to 2024-25 (Continuing ETF Scheme)   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              | 127 Inf. Bn, Uttrakhand                                                                                      | 128 Inf. Bn, Rajasthan                                                                                       | 129 Inf. Bn, J&K                                                                                             | 130 Inf. Bn, Uttrakhand                                                                                      | 134 Inf. Bn, Assam                                                                                           | 135 Inf. By, Assam                                                                                           |
| 1.                                                                                                           | 2020-21                                                                                                      | No. of Plants*                                                                                               | 4.57                                                                                                         | 6.00                                                                                                         | 0.95                                                                                                         | 4.95                                                                                                         | 1.71                                                                                                         | 2.99                                                                                                         |
| 1.                                                                                                           | 2020-21                                                                                                      | Area in ha.                                                                                                  | 457                                                                                                          | 600                                                                                                          | 160                                                                                                          | 495                                                                                                          | 103.64                                                                                                       | 300                                                                                                          |
| 2.                                                                                                           | 2021-22                                                                                                      | No. of Plants*                                                                                               | 8.02                                                                                                         | 7.00                                                                                                         | 1.13                                                                                                         | 8.00                                                                                                         | 4.38                                                                                                         | 3.34                                                                                                         |
| 2.                                                                                                           | 2021-22                                                                                                      | Area in ha.                                                                                                  | 802                                                                                                          | 600                                                                                                          | 155                                                                                                          | 800                                                                                                          | 211.92                                                                                                       | 320                                                                                                          |
| 3.                                                                                                           | 2022-23                                                                                                      | No. of Plants*                                                                                               | 8.02                                                                                                         | 7.00                                                                                                         | 1.13                                                                                                         | 8.00                                                                                                         | 4.38                                                                                                         | 3.34                                                                                                         |
| 3.                                                                                                           | 2022-23                                                                                                      | Area in ha.                                                                                                  | 802                                                                                                          | 600                                                                                                          | 155                                                                                                          | 800                                                                                                          | 211.92                                                                                                       | 320                                                                                                          |
| 4.                                                                                                           | 2023-24                                                                                                      | No. of Plants*                                                                                               | 4.00                                                                                                         | 6.00                                                                                                         | 1.54                                                                                                         | 4.00                                                                                                         | 4.72                                                                                                         | 3.27                                                                                                         |
| 4.                                                                                                           | 2023-24                                                                                                      | Area in ha.                                                                                                  | 400                                                                                                          | 600                                                                                                          | 157.74                                                                                                       | 329                                                                                                          | 242.52                                                                                                       | 363.66                                                                                                       |
| 5.                                                                                                           | 2024-25                                                                                                      | No. of Plants*                                                                                               | 4.00                                                                                                         | 6.00                                                                                                         | 0.39                                                                                                         | 4.71                                                                                                         | 4.78                                                                                                         | 3.54                                                                                                         |
| 5.                                                                                                           | 2024-25                                                                                                      | Area in ha.                                                                                                  | 400                                                                                                          | 600                                                                                                          | 47                                                                                                           | 470                                                                                                          | 173.75                                                                                                       | 427.6                                                                                                        |

*Unit in lakhs

Annexure-III

Annexure referred to in reply of part (c) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 349 regarding 'Eco Task Force' raised by Shri Daggumalla Prasada Rao due for reply on 18.08.2025. Details  regarding  the  fund  allocated  and  disbursed  to  6  Eco  Task  Force  Battalions

## during the last five years:

(Amount in Crores )

| Battalions             |   2020-21 |   2021-22 |   2022-23 |   2023-24 |   2024-25 |
|------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| 127 Infantry Battalion |      8.69 |      7.75 |     10.87 |     12.91 |      9.9  |
| 128 Infantry Battalion |     15.81 |     22.55 |     29.78 |     21.93 |     38.6  |
| 129 Infantry Battalion |      1.56 |      8.85 |      6.19 |      7.8  |      8.94 |
| 130 Infantry Battalion |      3.41 |     10.85 |      8.16 |     11.56 |     19.22 |
| 134 Infantry Battalion |      4.27 |     29.98 |     15.58 |      1.24 |      4.19 |
| 135 Infantry Battalion |      4.25 |     30.02 |      9.42 |      8.9  |      9.15 |
| Total                  |     38    |    110    |     80    |     64.34 |     90    |

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