Yamuna Task Force starts rejuvenation work

The newly created Yamuna Task Force, comprising officers and personnel of the Territorial Army, has started patrolling and performing other work under its mandate as part of the rejuvenation of the river in Delhi. The task force took part in the mega Yamuna riverbank cleanliness campaign led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday.

“The Indian Army and the Government of India’s Ministry of Defence decided to form the Yamuna Task Force here...The Indian Army’s involvement in this brings with it people’s expectations and hopes, and we will always live up to them,” Anurag Singh, lieutenant colonel, officer commanding, Yamuna Task Force, said.

Singh said that the Yamuna Task Force was raised in March as part of the 137 composite ecological task force battalions of the Territorial Army, popularly known as the Ganga Battalion, based out of Prayagraj. He said the initiative should not be viewed as a challenge but as a structured and achievable mission aimed at bringing about positive change.

Singh said the task force has put in place a comprehensive action plan with clearly defined goals and measurable outcomes.

“We have submitted our annual, weekly, and daily programmes, which focus on outcome-based, quantifiable, and tangible results. Therefore, with these structures in place, I do not see this as a challenge but as an opportunity for the participation of both the people and the Indian Army,” Singh added.

The Yamuna Task Force comprised two officers, five junior commissioned officers and 125 personnel, he said.

The mandate of the task force is to patrol the stretch of the Yamuna in Delhi, which is around 22 km long, spread awareness about the importance of clean rivers and to prevent the throwing of trash and other items in it, the officer said.