Lok Sabha Question No. 2608 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-10
Subject: Eco Task Battalions
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: BHARAT SINGH, VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK, RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2608

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.05.2016

## Eco-Task Battalions

2608.   SHRI BHARAT SINGH, SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK, DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK'

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

- (a) the  number  of  Eco-Task  Force  (ETF)  battalions  currently  engaged  in  the  work  of environmental protection and  the deployment status thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (b) whether more ETF battalions are likely to be constituted with the cooperation of State Governments and other agencies in future and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  ongoing  schemes  regarding  the  use  of  new  technology,  advanced  training  and capacity development to enhance the capacity, work quality of the Eco-Task Force?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) Presently, there are eight Eco Task Force (ETF) Battalions operating in different parts 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).  Details of State-wise location of these Battalions are given in Annexure .
- (b) Considering  the  commendable  work  done  by  the  ETF  Battalions,  some  State Governments have requested MoEF&CC to financially support them in raising ETF Battalions which could not be considered due to budgetary constraints. However, 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 and Himachal Pradesh.
- (c) ETF Battalions have adopted several effective measures to enhance the capacity and work  quality  of  the  ETF  personnel  by  employing  new  technology  such  as  Drip Irrigation,  construction  of  Mist  Chambers,  use  of  Rain  Trainer  Devices  (RTD), technical  tools  for  reducing  labour  efforts,  seed  mapping  for  ready  data  of  seed availability  in  forest  areas  etc.    The  ETF  personnel  are  also  imparted  advanced training  at  premier  institutions  like  Forest  Research  Institute  (FRI),  Dehradun  on improved  plantation  techniques,  silviculture  practices  etc.  and  Wildlife  Institute  of India (WII), Dehradun on conservation of flora and fauna.

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## Annexure

Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2608 on  'Eco  Task  Battalions'  asked  by  Shri  Bharat  Singh,  Shri  Vijay  Kumar  Hansdak, Dr.  Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' due for reply on 10.05.2016

## DETAILS OF LOCATIONS OF ECO TASK BATTALIONS

| S. No   | Units                          | Location of Battalion HQ         | Location of Companies   | Location of Companies                                                     | Funded by                                        |
|---------|--------------------------------|----------------------------------|-------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| S. No   | Units                          | Location of Battalion HQ         | No. of Companies        | Project area                                                              | Funded by                                        |
| 1       | 127 Inf. Bn. (TA) ECO GARH RIF | Dehradun (Uttarakhand)           | 2                       | Kauthi Bhaundi (Kalsi) Jaunsar Bhaabar, Dehradun(Uttarakhand)             | Ministry of Environment, Forests& Climate Change |
| 1       | 127 Inf. Bn. (TA) ECO GARH RIF | Dehradun (Uttarakhand)           | 2                       | Dewar Khadodra, Gopeshwar, Chamoli (Uttarakhand)                          | State Govt. of Uttarakhand                       |
| 2       | 128 Inf. Bn. (TA) ECO RAJ RIF  | Shri Mohangarh (Rajasthan)       | 3                       | General area Shri Mohangarh                                               | Ministry of Environment, Forests& Climate Change |
| 3       | 129 Inf. Bn. (TA) ECO JAKLI    | Samba (Jammu & Kashmir)          | 1                       | Tute-Di-Khui, Kanna Chhargal, Jammu & Kashmir                             | Ministry of Environment, Forests& Climate Change |
| 4       | 130 Inf. Bn. (TA) ECOKUMAON    | Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand)        | 2                       | Baste, and Toli, Pitoragarh, Uttarakhand                                  | Ministry of Environment, Forests& Climate Change |
| 4       | 130 Inf. Bn. (TA) ECOKUMAON    | Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand)        | 2                       | Vishwanath, Almora and Hupli, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand                    | State Govt. of Uttarakhand                       |
| 5       | 132 Inf. Bn. (TA) ECO RAJPUT   | Bhatti Mines, (Delhi)            | 1                       | Bhatti Mines, Delhi                                                       | Govt. of Delhi                                   |
| 6       | 133 Inf. Bn. (TA) ECO DOGRA    | Kufri, Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) | 2                       | Tattapani, Mandi and Jalogi, Aut Mandi, Himachal Pradesh                  | Govt. of Himachal Pradesh                        |
| 7       | 134 Inf. Bn. (TA) ECO ASSAM    | Gamani, Sonitpur, (Assam)        | 3                       | General area Gamani, Charduar, Sonai Rupai and Missamari, Sonitpur, Assam | Ministry of Environment, Forests& Climate Change |
| 8       | 135 Inf. Bn. (TA) ECO ASSAM    | Titaguri, Kokrajhar (Assam)      | 3                       | Bishmuri and Diglipara, Kokrajhar, Assam                                  | Ministry of Environment, Forests& Climate Change |