Question : ENCROACHMENT OF DEFENCE LAND

(a) the total area of defence land under encroachment and illegal construction on such land in the country, state / UT-wise including Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh;

(b) whether No Objection Certificates from Defence officials / authorities is mandatory for construction within five hundred meters radius of defence land and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether defence authorities have issued NOC for construction activities on such as a result of which people are facing hardships;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to review the guideline relating to it;

(e) whether the Government has taken steps to recover defence land and remove encroachment from it; and

(f) if so, the details thereof along with the total defence land freed from encroachment / illegal occupation in each State, State / UT-wise?

MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)

(a) As per available information approximately 11,379 acres of defence land is under encroachment across the country. The State / UT-wise details of land under encroachment are given at Annexure A. Details of illegal construction on such land is not being maintained by land owning agencies of the Ministry of Defence.

(b) to (d): The Government has issued guidelines dated 18th May 2011 for issue of no objection certificate by local military authority in respect of any construction coming up in vicinity of defence establishments. Representations and references have been received against the Guidelines from time to time. Based on the representations the Government has recently reviewed the Guidelines.

(e) & (f): Action for removal of encroachments is taken under the provisions of Public premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 as well as the Cantonments Act, 2006. In addition following steps have been taken for detection and removal of encroachments from defence land:

(i) Instructions have been issued to all concerned to expedite eviction proceedings by following the due process of law.

(ii) Defence land management system has been strengthened through computerisation of defence land records; survey, demarcation and verification of all defence lands and periodic land audit.

(iii) A Committee has been constituted for monitoring progress with regard to prevention and removal of encroachment.

As per available information there is a reduction in total defence land recorded as encroached by 1427 acres. State / UT-wise details is given in annexure`B`.