The army chief was addressing a gathering on the army's role in preventing environmental degradation. He was asked on the armed forces' role in planning the India's development.

With fund support from the National Wasteland Development Board and the Ministry of Rural Areas and Employment, the army had undertaken integrated water-shed development projects at Devlali and Ahmednagar. These had resulted in biomass regeneration and catalysed self generation of endemic flora lying dormant due to a water scarcity.

He cited the Eco Battalions, which combines the rehabilitation of ex-servicemen with environment preservation. Four Eco Battalions manned by 20 officers and 1300 men had greened 15,368 hectares with 162 lakh trees and 20,000 hectares of grass.