Pune: An “In Principle Approval” has been accorded for raising an Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) Ecological under the aegis of Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Army) at Aurangabad for carrying out afforestation and allied activities in consultation with Forest Department, Government of Maharashtra, for the Marathwada region. The foundation stone laying ceremony was carried out at Khultabad, about 20 km from Aurangabad, by Forest Minister of Maharashtra, Sudhir Mungantiwaron Tuesday.
The event was followed by a plantation of 3000 saplings jointly by Army personnel, State Forest Department and others present at the site. The event was witnessed by Hari Bhau Bagade , Speaker of Legislative Assembly, Government of Maharashtra, Dr Purushottam Bhapkar (IAS) Divisional Commissioner Aurangabad, PK Mahajan (IFS) Chief Conservator of Forest Department, Colonel Rameshwar Sharma, Station Headquarters Aurangabad, Colonel Venkatesh P, Deputy Commander, Territorial Army (TA) Group Headquarters Southern Command and one staff officer from TA Directorate, Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Army).
Later in the day, a large number of Army personnel, National Cadet Corps cadets, representatives of Cantonment Board and State Forest Department joined hands in carrying out plantation of saplings in the reclaimed area in Aurangabad Cantonment.
The English raised the Territorial Amy in 1920 and it was comprised of two wings namely – ‘The Auxiliary Force’ for Europeans & Anglo-Indians, and ‘The Indian Territorial Force’ for Indian volunteers. After Independence, the Territorial Army Act was passed in 1948 and the first Indian Governor General C Rajagopalachari formally inaugurated the Territorial Army.
The Territorial Army is a part of Regular Army and its present role is to relieve the Regular Army from static duties and assist civil administration in dealing with natural calamities and maintenance of essential services in situations where life of the communities is affected or the security of the Country is threatened and to provide units for Regular Army as and when required.
