Question : FUNCTIONING OF DGDE

(a) whether lack of verifiable utilisation record for most of the defence lands across the country has been reported to the Government;

(b) if so, whether the Government has received several complaints regarding functioning of Directorate General Defence Estate (DGDE);

(c) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon;

(d) whether the Controller General of Defence Accounts has also pointed out gross irregularities in the department and its failure to manage land records and has requested the Government to transfer its management to some other organisation; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI A.K. ANTONY)

(a) No, Madam. Most of the defence land is being utilized by the Armed Forces. Land records are being maintained and updated.

(b) & (c): Certain representations/suggestions and complaints have been received by the Government regarding improving the functioning of Directorate General of Defence Estates (DGDE). Computerisation of land records has been speeded up to improve the functioning of DGDE.

(d) & (e): Controller General of Defence Accounts assigned Controller of Defence Accounts (Internal Audit) to carry out a special performance audit to examine the existing land acquisition system in order to identify bottlenecks that account for delay and to suggest systemic measures to be taken to ensure that the Government does not end up incurring avoidable expenditure on account of interest on belated period of decretal amounts. The study report has been received. A number of recommendations have been made which inter alia mention that:

(i) Service Headquarters and other user agencies like Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ordnance Factories etc., may be authorized to deal directly with State Government authorities without intermediation of Directorate General of Defence Estates for acquisition of land, to expedite the land acquisition process. Elimination of the additional layer of Directorate General of Defence Estates from defence land acquisition process shall speed up the acquisition process and is expected to eliminate time and cost over-runs both for land and infrastructure on this.

(ii) Keeping in view the very limited utility of the Directorate General of Defence Estates organization, Ministry of Defence may like to order a comprehensive study for disbanding this organization from most of the activities from defence land management in a phased manner. The report is under examination.