Central Command has always been a forerunner in the conservation and preservation of ecology. Its efforts towards conservation and preservation and results of these endeavours have been exponential and contributed greatly to the ecology of Central India.

The requirement of water is a basic need. The infrequent rain and the shortage of perennial water sources had caused an urgent rethink with regard to conservation of water. During the monsoon season a heavy volume of water is wasted as it is not suitably harnessed.

In order to overcome the water shortage and conserve rain water, Infantry School as part of its ecological drive embarked upon rain water harvesting project in its premises.

A feasibility study was carried out incorporating engineers and experts from Lions Club, Mhow. It was suggested that the existing network of drains and the overflow of rain water from roof top of the buildings be channelized through a filter to a reservoir. The conserved water would then be utilized for gardening, area maintenance and recharging ground water.

The roof top water harvesting scheme at officer`s accommodation has been in operation for nearly eighteen months. Within this period it has had a definite positive impact on the environment. Benefits accrued are :-

• Availability of water for gardening for most part of the year at the site itself, therefore reducing the requirement of water bowsers for gardening.

• A visible change in the lawns.

• An overall betterment of ecology in the campus.

• Increase in sub soil water table due to recharging of ground water through bore well.

•  Availability of water for daily maintenance.

•  Creation of facility for storage of water.

It is evident that the rooftop water harvesting scheme will reap rich dividends for the environment and ecology in future.

Plantation

Post Completion

TREE PLANTATION AT CHAUBATTIA

The Army Cantonment at Chaubattia is located at an altitude of 7200 feet and is thickly forested and full of wild life.  Although Chaubattia is a green station but it faces a grave problem of soil erosion which is having devastating effect on atmosphere.  The local Army Battalion undertook a project for maintenance and development of ecology and started the mission “GREEN INDIA”.  Under this mission, it planted 4,000 saplings of trees, 1,000 of bamboos and 1,700 herbal plants.  At an altitude of 7200 feet it is difficult to maintain such a large number of saplings because of heavy rain fall and snow fall.  Due to heavy rain fall and snow fall, few of the saplings have either been destroyed due to soil erosion or some of them got burnt due to forest fire.  For the better upkeep and maintenance of plants, every plant was looked after by an individual.   To further control the soil erosion in this area a plan was undertaken to plant a kitchen garden in every company.  The unit also established two poly houses for the nurturing of saplings and then distributing it to the Companies, so that more trees can be planted. This place faces acute water shortage during summer and to overcome this problem construction of rain water harvesting tanks was also included in this project for the continuous supply of water to these saplings, so that there is no additional burden on the ground water and on Military Engineering Service for the water supply.    These tanks also helped in retaining of ground water. 

In this mission the battalion kept itself in the driving seat as far as the maintenance and development of ecology is concerned.  This not only included plantation of saplings and construction of rain water harvesting tanks but also cleanliness of this area.  This battalion also constructed Kitchen Waste Composing Drum so that littering of area can be avoided and the Kitchen Waste can be used as manure for the plants.

The Battalion further declared the area as poly free zone.  No individual was allowed to carry polythene bags in the location, instead of the same paper bags and gunny bags were used by the individuals. However, the area still contained a lot of polythene waste, which was being added day by day by the local population and the tourists. This was not a deterrent in the efforts of the Battalion and constant efforts were made to ensure the sanctity of the commitment the Battalion made for conserving the flora and the fauna of the place.

Before and after construction

Plantation of Saplings under Mission Green India

Poly House

Kitchen Garden

Herbal Garden

RAIN WATER HARVESTING BY CONSTRUCTION OF CHECK DAM
AT CENTRAL ORDNANCE DEPOT, JABALPUR

The ‘Green Governance Programmes’ are under taken with vigour each year during monsoons. However, severe summers and prolonged dry spells compounded by diminishing water table make the projects almost unviable. In order to ensure that bio diversity projects are sustained and the environment benefits from the same, there was a need for adequate financial support to create infrastructure and resources to sustain them.

Ordnance Depot, Jabalpur provides a protected environment for development of eco system. It also offers a natural breeding and holding ground for variety of species of flora, fauna and wild life including some of the highly endangered species. For the increasing population of these species, there was a requirement of water resource throughout the year, particularly during the summer season. To enable saving and storage of rain water and those arising from the streams it was proposed to construct a check dam over nullah inside the Depot for the benefit of flora, fauna, wildlife with financial assistance by ICICI Bank Ltd.

The Green Governance project has not only enhanced the bio diversity needs but also improved the look of the area in the Depot. A total of 6,42,290 Gallons water capacity has been created. The wild life already in existence and which would automatically multiply as a result of efforts made by the depot are:- 

• Barking Deer.

• Spotted Deer.

• Hanuman Langur.

• Rhesus Monkey.

• Wild Boar.

• Wild Hare.

• Panthers.

Numerous species of avifauna such as peacocks, caucals, bulbuls, paradise fly catchers, parrots, jungle fowl, wood pecker, cuckoo hawk, lapwing, drongo, babblers, robins, tree pie, owls and variety of pigeons have already adopted the area.

The project will ensure that the vegetations and wild life in the area multiply due to increased availability of water.