The Territorial Army on Wednesday established a new team dedicated to the rehabilitation and protection of the Gomti River.
According to a Territorial Army statement, the company, called the Ganga Task Force (GTF) battalion, will provide impetus to environmental conservation and sustainable development.
Consisting mainly of ex-servicemen, the Ganga Task Force will take up responsibilities such as pollution monitoring, monitoring of riverbanks and ghats, public awareness campaigns, and riverbank stabilization efforts.
The official raising ceremony took place on Wednesday, January 1, at Lucknow Cantonment. The event was marked by a symbolic handing over of the flag by Brigadier Chinmay Madhwal, Area Group Commander at the Territorial Army headquarters to Colonel Aravind Prasad S, GTF Commanding Officer.
The event was attended by people from both the military and civil sectors, including Professor Dr Venkatesh Dutta from Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University.
Professor Dutta, during the event, gave a historical background and details on the challenges facing the Gomti River. He also expressed confidence in the ability of the task force to bring about quick and sound rehabilitation of the Gomti River.
This new company has been established under the aegis of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), Ministry of Jal Shakti, with orders issued by the Ministry of Defense in September 2024.
This initiative not only aims to revive the Gomti river but also emphasizes the ongoing role of the Indian Army in nation building and environmental sustainability.