The Defence Ministry is likely to complete the computerisation of records of all the land under it by the end of this month, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.
"Computerisation of land records is already going on and is likely to be completed by March 2011. Steps have been initiated to streamline proper management of defence land and its protection," Defence Minister A K Antony said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
"Two projects, one of digitisation of land records and the other on Survey of Defence Land using modern technology have been sanctioned recently. Both projects are to be carried out in a time-bound manner," the minister said.
The Defence Ministry has around 17 lakh acres of land under it at various locations across the country and the decision to update the land records was taken after scams such as Adarsh Housing Society and Kandivali broke out.
He further added, "It has been decided to review the practice of issuing NOC for construction of buildings on lands adjoining the defence lands."
The minister informed the House that Parliamentary Panel has suggested for an independent regulator to oversee the defence lands.
"The guidance of the Standing Committee has been sought on the powers and role of the Independent Regulator and the difference between him and the Directorate General Defence Estate (DGDE)," he said.
Meanwhile, answering another query, Antony said 70 acres of defence land has been freed from encroachment in last three years and 227 cases of encroachment over the same are pending in various courts.
"Approximately 70 acres of land under the jurisdiction of DGDE has been freed from the encroachment during the last three years... 227 cases are pending in various courts as reported by DGDE, he added.
On the details of defence land which were diverted to other agencies, Antony replied, "One case has come to the notice of government in which possession of land under occupation of Army for long was ceded to state government which allotted it to Adarsh Housing Society."
"No case of defence land being sold to private builder has come to the notice of the government during the last three years. However, there are cases of encroachments," he added. He further replied that action for removal of encroachments or illegal occupation of defence land is taken under the provision of the Cantonments Act 2006 and Public Premises (eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971.
"Action against officials is warranted if there is any connivance. However, no such case has been noticed during the last three years," he added. The minister also replied to a query on the proposal of bringing civil areas under Ranikhet cantonment in Uttarakhand under Municipal area.
Confirming that the proposal from the state government was declined by the Defence Ministry, Antony said, "Agreeing to the proposal would have involved serious security implications besides affecting the heath and hygiene of the troops.It would have also resulted in loss of revenue to the Ranikhet Cantonment Board."
