Famous American 'Self -help author' and a world renowned therapist 'Wayne Walter Dyer' in one of his famous quotes has stated the obvious which very few emulate; quote-'When we change the way we look at things , the things we look at change'. The words of Dyer's sayings have never beenso truly reflected in their meanings as has been by the actions of GOI in its latest moves to beef up 'National security apparatus' all along the country's frontiers from J&K to Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh. The standing committee of the 'National board for wildlife ( NBWL) headed by union environment minister Bhupinder Yadav has recommended 32 defence infra projects involving diversion of land from 'Protected areas & eco sensitive zones' across Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Ladakh and Sikkim. Never ever in Indian history after independence such a massive heft has been afforded to the 'National security apparatus' overriding sundry concerns of ecology and environment. In fact this singular act by the NBWL has epitomized the above quote of Wayne Dyer -'When we change the way welook at things, the things we look at change' in its totality. Since when was national security infra given an overriding preference over other concerns of the country? Not in my recent memory at least. In fact it was the other way , as an example- many of the 'Field firing ranges' of the armed forces were deliberately closed that were spread out from J&K to Arunachal Pradesh forcing the units of army as well as the air force to divert themselves to twin ranges of 'Pokhran & Mahajan' located in the extremes of Rajasthan , thus extending both their logistics and time frame for carrying out simple tasks of field firing. This closure or rather denial of field firing ranges was many times at the behest of misplaced priorities of the political dispensation. But not now.May be certain actions inimical to national interests by both our adversaries in not too recent past( OP Sindoor & stand-off in eastern Ladakh) have forced the hands of country's planners to place national defence and security concerns over other routine matters that didn't muster a second look.
In an era marked by rising geo-political tensions and accelerating environmental crises, the dual imperatives of national security and ecological sustainability are often viewed in conflict. Balancing ecology with national defence is a strategic imperative that can no longer be brushed aside with impunity. Modern nations face twin challenges-ensuring territorial integrity and preserving ecological balance. Defence activities often involve infrastructure, training and deployment in ecological sensitive zones that overlap environmental considerations (mountains, deserts, forests , coastal zones etc). To set into motion a synergetic approach combining the two facets of national defence alongside ecological concerns often becomes a waterloo for most of our policy planners. Military infrastructure often cuts across swathes of pristine ecosystems that are required for roads, airfields, bases and such like issues which boils down to deforestation and land degradation of the region. On top of it regular use of explosives and firing of newer varieties of ammunition with longer version of guns from the artillery affects soil, water and wild life. Fragile eco zones like the Himalayas, NE of India, and Andaman & Nicobar islands face added strain due to troop movement and logistic chains. At the highest battlefield of the world -'Siachen glacier' non-biodegradable waste accumulated over decades became an environmental concern until proactive campaigns were initiated by the Indian army.
Can anybody forget the massive snow avalanche of 2012 that occurred at a place known as 'Gyari' and hit Pakistani army base near Siachen glacier resulting in deaths of 140 Pakistani soldiers and civilians? No wonder the late PM Man Mohan Singh way back in 2005 while on a visit to Siachen glacier advocated the highest battlefield to be converted into a mountain of peace. It is a different matter that the move was devoid of realpolitik and was accordingly scuppered. Similarly large scale troop movements in Rajasthan affect sand dune ecology. The latest in the series of ecological upheavals was recorded in Jaisalmer Rajasthan when in the aftermath of 'OP SINDOOR' due to a continuous barrage of Pakistani drones , UAVs & UACVs the nearly extinct 'Great Indian Bustard ( GIB) chicks numbering nine (9) were temporarily relocated to Ajmer in May 2025 that had started showing signs of distress due to large noises and explosions. The same were shifted back again to Jaisalmer in June 2025. Recently an ecological cum humanitarian disaster (landslide ) struck the 'Mangan' district resulting in the death of many Indian army personnel including a senior army officer and his family. This landslide triggered by heavy rainfall , occurred at a military camp in 'Chaten' near Lachen. In the northernmost part of Chamoli Garhwal of Uttrakhand, regular movement of forward troops and deployment of heavy equipment often disturbs hosts of fossils that lie embedded in the soil at places like Rimkhim, Lapthal and GirthiDobala. Globally, militaries are among the largest institutional consumers of fossil fuels. According to 'Stockholm international peace research institute ( SIPRI), armed forces account for about 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions-a figure too large to be ignored in any of the discussions of this nature.
A narrow definition of national security i.e. focusing only on the military threats no longer suffices . The 21st century has shown that environmental degradation can destabilize nations. The Syrian civil war was partly preceded by prolonged droughts and resource conflicts. In India,glacial retreats in the Himalayan region threaten river flows critical for agriculture and population centers, with potential implications for internal stability. Moreover operational effectiveness itself depends upon ecological health. Troops deployed in unstable mountainous regions face increased risks from landslides and avalanches exacerbated by massive deforestation and unplanned construction. Thus environmental security is national security-a concept now increasingly recognized by defence planners worldwide. And India is no exception to the above postulation. India faces a unique challenge, in that it has to secure a 15,000km land frontier and 7500 km long coast line while being home a mega-diverse ecosystem. The rapid construction of the famous 'Char Dhamyatra' project in Uttrakahand and border roads in Arunachal Pradesh as mentioned above has triggered landslides and loss of forest cover too. While these projects enhance strategic mobility, they underscore the need for 'Environmental impact assessment ( EIA) that integrates military exigencies with ecological wisdom.
Now coming to the latest from the NBWL and its 32 projects. From infrastructure for a forward aviation base, facilities for missiles and vital road linkages along the line of actual control ,the standing committee of the NBWL has approved proposals for critical defence projects along the LAC stretching from eastern Ladakh to Sikkim to Arunachal Pradesh. It has also cleared construction of the 'Arunachal frontier highway' close to the Myanmar border, through the core zone of the 'Namdapha tiger reserve' subject to mitigation efforts or measures to minimize impact on wildlife and their habitats. This project will divert 310 hectares of forest land from the tiger reserve . Coming to the extreme northern part of the LAC, the NBWL has approved a 10.2 kms road link between DBO( Daulat beg oldie) to the border personnel meeting ( BPM) hut where senior Indian and Chinese army officers meet to discuss border issues. At a height of 17,000 feet, DBO is the country's northern most outpost where the highest airstrip is also located. Last October, NBWL had approved an alternate route to DBO for quick movement of troops and resources. The MOD had told the 'Wild life board' panel that no road exists between DBO and the old BPM ( Border personnel meeting) , which is frequented often by the Indian army and the ITBP personnel. Whereas on the other hand, the Chinese side is building a concrete road between TWD (akin to our DBO on our side) to the Chinese temporary meeting point with a width of 9 to 18 meters. Other critical projects accorded approval include those for housing troops of artillery regiment and a field hospital, and also accommodation for (R&O ) recce and observation flight and hangars for holding helicopters. Creation of aviation infra for a forward aviation base at Shyok and creation of technical infra for locating equipment of short range surface to surface missiles. In Sikkim, a border outpost at Pangola in Pakyong district and the Rishi-Rongli -Kupuproad improvement have been approved too. Suffice to say that the GOI is in a forward gear and wants to cut short the time frame it had already lost in giving priority to national defence infra.
So far so good. How far the Indian armed forces have come to adopt a 'Green defence strategy'? To my mind a lot of ground needs to be covered towards that end. Some of the following could be the steps taken in the right earnest-
* Green military infrastructure-Put max of military infra under solar panels, wind turbines in places like Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner etc that has good wind and ample of sunshine throughout the year.
* Use eco sensitive designs for roads and bridges to minimize habitat fragmentation. A Case in point was the recent ecological disaster that took place in Chaten near Lachen in Sikkim due to the fragmentation of habitat.
* Sustainable training practices -- Limit live fire exercises in ecological fragile zones; employ advanced simulators and virtual reality for training.
* Schedule manoeuvres to avoid wildlife breeding and migration periods.
* Mandatory ecological audits for all defence projects in sensitive zones with mitigation plans built in from the outset.
* Employ drones, satellites, and sensor networks for surveillance to reduce physical footprints.
* Collaboration of defence planners with environmental scientists to map vulnerabilities and co-create solutions.
All said and done it is high time to institutionalize 'Eco-defence' as a strategic doctrine. Creating the so called 'Eco-task battalions' that form part of India's TA (Territorialarmy) is now a passé. This passé of TA units can only be further bolstered by above mentioned steps if taken in the right earnest so as to make the aims co-terminus. World over some of the powerful armies of countries like the US, Israel & Scandinavian nations have adopted renewable energy sources , environmental innovations, comprehensive climate adaptation plans and the ilk to avoid critical damage to our environment which is already reeling under the onslaught of human depredations. This dichotomy between ecology and national defence has to be bridged so as to ensure a fertile soil, clean air, stable climate and a robust ecosystem on which can rest a country's overall national security. As India emerges from its myriad challenges demonstrated in ample manner during 'OP SINDOOR',let it also spearhead a sustainable defence which is the strongest defence of all. The NBWL by approving 32 defence projects in one go shows where India is heading ; and that too in the right direction.
(The writer is a retired army officer)