Question : ACQUISITION OF LAND FOR AIR FORCE BASE

(a) whether the Government has acquired agricultural land of farmers for expansion of Air Force Base at Bamraily in Allahabad;

(b) if so, the land acquired by the Government and compensation paid to the farmers;

(c) whether the Government has issued notice before acquiring the land, if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government is releasing the earlier acquired land to the farmers;

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(f) whether the villagers have faced difficulty in absence of demarcations of boundary of Air Force Base;

(g) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and

(h) the scheme formulated by the Government for rehabilitation of villagers displaced by Bamraily Air Force Base?

MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE)

(a) In the past 15 years no land has been acquired for expansion of Air Force Station, Bamrauli, Allahabad. However, the first acquisition of land was done during 1945-1946. Subsequently, additional agricultural land was acquired from time to time as per the statutory provisions under Defence of India Act, 1939, Requisitioning & Acquisition of Immovable Property Act, 1952 and Land Acquisition Act, 1894.

(b) A total of 666.53 acres of land was acquired and Rs. 7,17,863.29 were paid as compensation to the farmers.

(c) The notices for acquisition, as prescribed under the aforesaid Acts, were issued by the competent authority.

(d) No, Sir.

(e) The land is meant for future defence use and as such can not be released.

(f) The boundary of Air Force Station, Bamrauli is well defined. However, at some places boundary pillars have been removed by the villagers. Nevertheless, land outside the boundary wall is well defined and Air Force is not causing any difficulty to the villagers.

(g) Does not arise.

(h) No rehabilitation scheme has been formulated for the affected villagers as the compensation has already been paid to them.