Defence ministry approves proposal for raising of Ganga Task Force

NEW DELHI: The Defence Ministry has approved 'in principle' a proposal for raising four battalions of Composite Eco Task Force named as Ganga Task Force, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

The information was shared in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Sanwar Lal Jat said.

"A proposal for raising of 4 Battalions of Composite Eco Task Force named as Ganga Task Force has been approved in principle by Ministry of Defence in December, 2014," Jat said a response to a question.

He added that the Ganga Task Force shall be responsible for plantation of trees in upper reaches and banks of Ganga, strengthening of pollution monitoring mechanism on ground, watch and ward for protection of bio-diversity in Ganga among other things.

In response to another question, Jat said that a consortium of IITS has been tasked with preparation of a comprehensive Ganga River Basin Management Plan.