(a) the total area of land encroached upon for construction of religious shrines/structures in the country during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
(b) whether the Government has formulated any policy or issued guidelines to regulate/prevent encroachment of public land in the name of construction of religious shrines or structures; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI BIRENDER SINGH)
(a) to (c): Land and its management falls under the exclusive legislative and administrative jurisdiction of the States as provided in Entry No. 18 of List II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution. The information as well as the policy or guidelines to regulate/prevent encroachment of public land therefore also falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the States.