By IANS,
New Delhi: With over 11,000 acres of about 17 lakh acres under encroachment, the defence ministry’s project to computerise its land records to streamline management and prevent misuse of its property across the country will be completed by March, the Lok Sabha was informed Monday.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony, in a written reply, said the computerisation of the land records was already in progress and “is likely to be completed by March 2011.”
He said steps had been taken to streamline proper management of defence land and its protection, which included digitisation of land records and survey of defence land using modern technology. Both projects, to be carried out in a time-bound manner, have been sanctioned recently, he added.
“It has been decided to review the practice of issuing no-objection certificates for construction of buildings on lands adjoining defence lands,” he noted.
Antony also said that the guidance of the parliamentary standing committee on the defence ministry had been sought on the powers and role of an independent regulator and the difference between the regulator and the Directorate General of Defence Estates.
To another question, Antony said a total of 11,051.955 acres of defence land was under encroachment nationwide. Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 2,948.826 acres under illegal occupation. Maharashtra came a close second at 2,285.441 acres under occupation and Haryana a distant third with 960.581 acres.
Antony also said the ministry was fighting 227 cases of defence land encroachment in various courts.