Policy changes to curb encroachment of defence land: Antony

Mumbai, Jan 21 (PTI) The Government is contemplatingpolicy changes to ensure defence lands in the country are notencroached upon, Defence Minister A K Antony said today.

"We are making policy changes so that in future suchincidents (encroachments) do not occur," the minister toldreporters after commissioning Italian built fleet-tanker INSDeepak into the Indian Navy at the Naval Dockyard here.

"As far as issuing NOCs on the land belonging to Defenceis concerned, we are looking into the complaints we havereceived," the minister said.

"Henceforth we will ensure that only higher levelofficers go through all these procedures and such NOCs willnot be issued," Antony said, adding defence land records wouldbe systematically computerised.

The Minister''s statement comes in the backdrop of theAdarsh Housing Society scam in Mumbai, in which names of someretired army officials and a few politicians have cropped up.