10,126 acres of defence land encroached: Parrikar

Bengaluru, April 28: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is ensuring that the armed forces have the best war fighting machines, but they seems to be finding it tough in tackling the growing menace of land-grabbing.

According to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, MoD approximately 10,126 acres of defence land is currently under encroachment. MoD owns a total of 17,57,055.54 acres land across India.

Citing inputs from the land management agencies under MoD, Parrikar says the encroachment is around 0.58% of the total land holding of MoD. He says there are no centralised records on land grabbing complaints maintained by his ministry.

Whenever an encroachment issue is brought to the notice of MoD, Parrikar says action against is taken under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 and Cantonment Act 2006.

The minister said following the prevention, detection and removal of encroachment missions, defence land, recorded as illegally occupied or encroached has reduced by approximately 2,512.83 acres in the last three years.

In order to ensure the proper utilisation of defence land, MoD is undertaking periodic Defence Land Audit. A committee has also been constituted to suggest ways to optimise use of defence land, Parrikar informed the Upper House.

Directorate General Defence Estates (DGDE) under MoD maintains a data bank of defence land across the country.

Recent land grab incident in Bengaluru

The MoD had recently issued a statement on behalf of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Bengaluru in connection with a land-grab incident.

MoD had said that the land mafia attempted to disturb the construction of a boundary wall. After the terror strike on Pathankot Air Force Station, security across all IAF bases has been tightened. MoD had said that around nine acres of land belonging to AFS Jalahalli had been encroached.

OneIndia News