Jammu, Mar 13 (JKNS): Lt General Girish Kalia, AVSM, VSM, Director General Territorial Army visited Chinar Eco Warriors, the Territorial Army’s dedicated Ecological battalion, to review the unit’s contribution towards the Greening Jammu & Kashmir initiative, for which programme is being implemented in close synergy with the State Forest Department, Jammu & Kashmir, under projects funded by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India.
During the visit, the Director General was comprehensively briefed on the battalion’s wide-ranging afforestation, ecological rejuvenation and community outreach initiatives being carried out across various parts of the Union Territory.
He expressed deep appreciation to the unit, whose steadfast commitment has not only strengthened environmental stewardship but has also ignited a renewed sense of ecological responsibility among the children, youth and local communities.
In his address, the Director General lauded the battalion’s inspiring efforts to revive awareness about India’s heritage trees, many of which hold profound historical significance and were silent witnesses to the nation’s freedom struggle.
He further commended the initiative to educate the local populace about the ancient botanical treasures of medicinal plants and indigenous tree species, thereby reconnecting communities with the rich ecological wisdom embedded in India’s traditional knowledge systems.
The Director General particularly praised the innovative collaboration between the Chinar Eco Warriors and the State Forest Department in promoting the Miyawaki techniques of medicinal tree plantation, through which clusters of medicinal tree species are being distributed and planted across villages and forest areas.
Such forward-looking initiatives, he foresighted, not only accelerate ecological restoration but also open avenues for value-added forest produce and sustainable income generation for the people of Jammu & Kashmir, thereby harmonising environmental conservation with socio-economic development.
He also applauded the Officers and personnel of the unit for pioneering the adoption of the Kokedama method of plant cultivation, an eco-friendly technique that replaces conventional plastic and clay pots. This innovative approach significantly reduces plastic usage and top soil conservation, while promoting aesthetic and sustainable plant cultivation.
The Director General noted that the initiative resonates strongly with the global call of the United Nations to “Beat Plastic Pollution” and supports the broader objectives of Government of India’s directives of climate change mitigation and environmental sustainability frameworks.
The Director General expressed profound admiration for the professionalism, dedication, and ecological vision displayed by the Officers and personnel of the Chinar Eco Warriors, observing that their tireless efforts represent a unique confluence of national service, environmental guardianship and community empowerment. (JKNS)
