Context

• The Indian Army hosted a concert by eminent musician KailashKher, to create awareness about the immense work being done by the armed forces towards the effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of river Ganga.
• The concert was organized by the Territorial Army to create awareness about the immense work being done by 137 Ecological TA Battalion under the leadership of Colonel AmitPandey, NM. The event was held on the scenic banks of the Ganges in Varanasi.
• To make the Ganga YodhaMahotsav a success, the Territorial Army have also organised for the post event clean-up drive to encourage and convey a message to keep the surroundings clean.
• With the announcement of the NamamiGange project in 2014, the efforts for Ganges rejuvenation gained national importance and the government also invited the Army to contribute.
• The Army formed a special battalion for this purpose in April 2018, with units located at Kanpur, Varanasi and Prayagraj.
• Popularly known as the Ganga Task Force, the 137 CETF Bn (TA) 39 GR was raised with the budgetary support of the ‘Ministry of Water Resources, River Devp and Ganga Rejuvenation’ and functions in close coordination with the National Mission for Clean Ganga.