About six kilometers from Ahmednagar in Maharashtra on the Sholapur highway, the large barren patches of wasteland are rudely interrupted by 881.85 hectares of thick vegetation, thanks to men in olive green uniform of the Mechanised Infantry Regimental Centre (MIRC). This is not just another green patch in the countryside, it is the result of one of the most successful wasteland development projects of India called MIRC Green. Recently this project was awarded the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar (IGPP), the highest award for environmental contribution. The Mechanised Infantry Regimental Centre is the first non-professional organisation in the field of environmental protection to have received this award.

MIRC Green is an outstanding example of civil-military cooperation which has successfully worked towards achieving national and global environmental conservation goals. It is also another facet of the fighting spirit of the soldiers of the Indian Army who have bravely fought against the vagaries of nature and successfully conquered the wastelands in Ahmednagar district. The biggest beneficiary of the wasteland development project is the local population of Ahmednagar district. The project has increased the subsoil level of water in the adjoining areas also and increased the yield of the farmland. The project has generated employment, fodder and fuel for firewood for the population of Darewadi, Nimbodi, Wakodi, Narayandoh, Waluj, Tukkadwadh and Sarola in Ahmednagar district. The project is a source of motivation for everyone to use similar techniques in other wastelands and farmlands.

MIRC was raised in 1979 at Ahmednagar in an area comprising mostly wastelands. To reverse the trend of environmental degradation and loss of biological diversity in the area, MIRC launched a project called `MIRC Green, in 1979. In the first phase of the project from 1979 to 1993, 350.6 hectares of barren landscape was converted into green land by planting approximately 4.5 lakh trees with the assistance of Social Forestry Department of Ahmednagar. To continue the process, the second phase was launched to bring 531.25 hectares of wasteland into sustainable use under an integrated wasteland scheme sponsored by the National Wasteland Development Board. The project, in five years, has successfully reversed the environmental degradation in the area and about 5 lakh trees have been planted.

The project is an environmentalist’s dream come true. Approximately 9.5 lakh trees have been successfully planted in the area. Earlier, hardy trees were planted for their survival and to make up the deficiencies of the soil and subsequently fruit trees have been planted to increase bird and insect activity in the area. The vegetation has attracted wild life in various forms. Today foxes, rabbits and wild cats are a common site here. The project has generated allied activities in the field of environmental conservation. An artificial lake has been constructed to have a water point for wild animals and to increase the bird life. There is a fully developed nursery which can sustain the requirement of trees. Solar power is being utilised to charge batteries and wind - mills are being used to draw out water from well to produce electricity.