NR gives Delhi Govt Rs 11 cr to remove encroachments on rail land

New Delhi, Aug 30 (UNI) Northern Railway have deposited over Rs 11 crore with the Delhi Government to get encroachments removed from railway land.

Giving this information to the Lok Sabha, Minister of state for Railway R Velu said Railways had agreed to bear part of the cost required for relocation of Pre-1998 encroachers located on Railway land in 'Safety Zone' and on land required for execution of sanctioned projects, as per the Resettlement and Rehabilitation policy of the Delhi Government, which has the approval of the Ministry of Urban Development.

There are 27,000 encroachments covering an area of approximately 40 hectare of railway land, he pointed in a written reply to the Lower House.

These encroachments have come up over years. Various steps have been taken for removal of encroachments, which also include action under Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971.

All efforts are made by Railway towards proper co-ordination with the Government of Delhi, including seeking assistance of local police and Magistrate as eviction of encroachers often lead to law and order problems.

In the process of removal of encroachers, Railways have to depend on the State Government for Police/Magistrate, and for survey and resettlement of encroachers, he said.

UNI