Strict norms before granting NOC for use of defence land

New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI) Stung by land scams, the Army hasput in place a new policy regarding issuing ''No ObjectionCertificates'' which provides for counter-checking of suchclearances for a stricter control.

Under the new policy, Army formations will have to takepermission from their higher-ups before issuing or grantingNOC to any private party for construction on or near defenceland, official sources said here.

The formation commanders would not be allowed to grantNOCs on their own and the proposals would be sent to theirsuperiors and only after analysing the proposals and ensuringthat Army''s interests are protected, NOCs would be granted,they said.

The Defence Ministry has also decided to change itspolicies related to granting NOCs and is going in forcomputerising of entire land records with the Defence Estates.

These changes have been made in wake of land scams likethose involving Adarsh society in Mumbai, Sukna in West Bengaland the latest Kandivali again in Mumbai.

All these scams have been related to granting of NOCs toprivate builders, allowing them to construct structures onmilitary land or plots adjacent to sensitive bases.

A number of senior serving and retired officers includingthree former Services chiefs are facing allegations in thesescams.

In the Sukna land scam, Lt Gen P K Rath was courtmartialled for issuing a NOC to private realtor Dilip Agarwalfor constructing an educational institution on a piece of landadjacent to the military station in West Bengal.

One of the three charges on which the 3-star officer wasfound guilty included that of not informing his superiorauthorities about the MoU signed between the 33 Corps and theGeetanjali Educational Trust.