Dehradun: The Union Defence Ministry has banned the recruitment rally of the Territorial Army formed under the Khanduri government. It has one battalion and four companies each in Garhwal and Kumaon. The Uttarakhand government has not paid the reimbursement of the Eco Task Force, known as green soldiers of ex-servicemen, to the Defence Ministry since 2018, leading to a ban on it.

It has been told by the Ministry of Defense that due to non-payment of dues of Rs 132 crore, both the battalions and related companies have been closed next year. In order to greenish the barren mountains of Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of the state, the 127 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) Eco Task Force was formed in Garhwal in 2012 under the government of former CM Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri, while 130 Infantry Battalion ETF was formed in Pithoragarh of Kumaon Division.

Four hundred ex-servicemen and eight army officers of both the battalions and their 2-2 companies have taken the initiative to the greenery in the barren mountains since then, but the state government has not been paying the salary given to the ex-servicemen to the Union Defense Ministry since 2018 and the expenses incurred on the project. It has now increased to 132 crores. According to an Army officer, the recruitment rally has been banned by the Ministry of Defense due to non-payment of dues to the Center. Due to the absence of a recruitment rally, the number of ex-servicemen in ETFs is continuously decreasing. It has also been said by the ministry that the Infantry Battalion ETF should be postponed if the payment is not made by next year. ETFs have been instrumental in reviving barren hills of areas like Mana in Chamoli district, Mussoorie in Dehradun, Munsiyari in Pithoragarh district etc. This is the reason why it has been awarded many awards including Earth Care Award in the year 2012, and the Bombay Natural History Society Green Governance Award in the year 2008.  

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