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The Army has played a vital role in reviving the degraded ecology by massive plantation on the vast stretches of the Shivalik hills. This has helped in restoring snowfall in Mussoorie and added to its pristine beauty.
The idea of employing the Army in the ecological construction work was crystallized in the form of 127 Infantry Batallion (Territorial Army) Ecological Unit – a dedicated unit for environment and ecological protection of Shivalik Hills and Garhwal Himalayas. Raised in 1982 at the Garhwal Rifles Regimental Centre, Lansdowne in Uttaranchal, it was the first experiment of its kind in the world.
The Unit was affiliated to the Garhwal Rifles as a Territorial Army Unit and the ex-servicemen of Uttaranchal hills were enrolled for the assignment. The Unit was entrusted with the task of restoration of the degrading ecology of the Shivalik Hills and the Garhwal Himalayas through afforestation and soil conservation techniques.
Till about 25 years back, Chunakhala, 10 kms, from Mussorrie, was the epicenter of mining which resulted in the drying up of natural spring in the area and depletion of the flora and fauna. Norman Burlow, a British, who had been to Mussoorie in 1979 was pained to see the plight of the Queen of Hills. He brought the matter to the knowledge of the then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi and the concept of a separate Task Force for promoting environment emerged.
The Unit has been a joint venture of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Uttaranchal Government. The Ministry of Defence bears the initial expenditure which is subsequently reimbursed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The State Forest Department provides technical and other project support.
The Unit was initially assigned the task of afforestation in Shahjahanpur ranges near Mohand in 1982. Apart from afforestation, the Unit had carried out soil conservation also. During the period from 1982 to 1984 the Unit covered an area of 700 hectares by planting 3,18,000 saplings.
In 1985, 127 Infantry Battalion (TA) Ecological Unit was shifted to the southern parts of Mussoorie hills which had lost it lustre and pristine beauty due to unscientific mining and deforestation by large scale cutting of trees. The Unit was assigned the task of treatment and reclamation of mines, soil conservation and afforestatin under Kyarkuli Micro Catchment Development Project. The gigantic task involved fencing, filling of pits, collection of humus, raising grass plants, weeding of plants, local cutting and watering of saplings on the difficult hilly terrain at a height ranging from 5,000 feet to 6,000 feet above sea level.
With limited resources and a strength of 200 ex-servicemen, the Unit rejuvenated an area of 3,400 hectares by planting 27 lakh trees and reclaiming 26 mines by 1994. The efforts of the Unit proved fruitful and Mussoorie had its first snowfall in 1997 after a gap of 17 years. Not only this, Dehradun too started experiencing improved rainfall. The Unit accomplished the task in 9 years, which was to be completed in 13 years.
After successful completion of the project at Mussoorie the Unit took up the ecological reconstruction project of the Aglar Watershed. The Aglar river is one of the main tributaries of river Yamuna. The Aglar Watershed Project is in the catchment area to the north of the river and across the Mussoorie ridge. These hill tracts are barren and bare due to the incessant felling of trees and fodder collection. Being in the rain shadow area these hill tracts are on the southern slope and get scanty rainfall. The Unit has taken up the challenging an difficult task with dedication and sincerity. So far the unit has planted 35 lakh saplings in 4,400 hectares of land. It has another 9 years to complete the project. It is estimated that 30 lakh saplings would be planted in an area of 4,000 hectares of the ridge behind Mussoorie during the remaining period.
The survival rate of tree plantation by Eco Task Force is higher than any government agency/non-government agency engaged in the plantation work. During the year 2000-2001 the survival rate was 75 per cent and it has not fallen below 70 per cent even in drought-affected years. The care and protection of the plantation is a continuous process spread over a period of three years, which is sufficient enough for the saplings to grow into healthy trees.
Involving People
In addition to plantation, the Unit is actively engaged in executing mass awareness programmes in its project area since it was felt that this was the only way to sustain the preservation momentum in the long run. It has been getting willing and voluntary co-operation from the local residents for protection of its plantation. The inhabitants of the area have been motivated to grow fruit bearing trees also. As a result, some clusters of villages now have fruit gardens. The residents who had been solely dependent on agriculture so far have now taken to horticulture at the instance of the members of the Eco Task Force operating in the area.(PIB Feature)
*PIB Features Unit
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