Question : Encroachment on Defence Land

(a) whether there has been cases of mismanagement of defence land which has resulted in large scale encroachment, shoddy record keeping, unauthorised golf courses, dismal administration of leases etc. and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has conducted any assessment of the defence;

(c) whether there is urgent need for an independent Defence Land Management Authority to deal with lack of accountability and multiplicity of agencies;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to prevent encroachment of defence land in future?

MINISTER OF STATE (DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)
IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
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(a) The Ministry of Defence is managing its land as per existing land policy and related guidelines/ rules.
(b) Yes, Madam.
(c) & (d): No, Madam. As per the Cantonment Land Administration Rules, 1937 (CLAR), Acquisition, Custody and Relinquishment Rules, 1944 (ACR Rules) and executive instructions issued by the Ministry from time to time, the responsibility of management and protection of defence land and for removal of encroachments is entrusted to various land management agencies in the Ministry. Monitoring and supervision of respective field offices is undertaken by the Service Headquarters and by Directorate General Defence Estates as the case may be and overall control is exercised by the Ministry.

(e) Detection, prevention and removal of encroachment is a continuous exercise. Action for removal of encroachments on defence land are taken under the provisions of Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 as well as under the Cantonment Act, 2006. Cases are also taken up with State or Municipal authorities for resolution of the problem. Additionally, the Government has undertaken the following steps to check encroachment:
(i) Strengthening of defence land management by way of digitisation of land records, survey, demarcation and verification of defence lands and land Audit.
(ii) Issue of detailed instructions by the Government emphasizing the need for ensuring vigilance, detection and prevention of new encroachments.
(iii) The process of defence land audit has been institutionalised from 2011-12 as continuing process.
(iv) Court cases are being pursued to evict encroachers.
(v) Close liaison is being maintained with revenue and civil police authorities to detect attempt to encroach upon the defence land by encroachers.
(vi) Defence lands located in isolated locations are being fenced and regular patrolling is being carried out to safeguard the lands from encroachers and unauthorized construction.
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