By IANS,
New Delhi: Defence Minister A.K. Antony Wednesday said the exercise to computerise records of defence lands would be completed by March 31 and strict action will be taken to evict encroachers from defence lands.
Replying to supplementaries in the Rajya Sabha, Antony said computerising the records will help tackle the problem of identification of defence land in civilian areas in the states.
Answering a query, he said the government was examining the issue concerning the 31-storey Harsiddhi Heights, situated on Worli Seaface in Mumbai. The Navy has filed a court petition seeking that the building be demolished because of its proximity to INS Trata and the aerial view it offered of the naval base.
Antony acknowledged that encroachment of defence land was a reality in some states due to historical reasons but assured that the government was taking “strict action” to tackle the issue.
He said that 11,000 acres of land was encroached out of the total 17.31 lakh acres defence land and the problem of encroachment had declined over the years.
Answering another query, he said there has been a rise in indigenous production in defence platforms, equipment and ammunition and the government’s first priority was to reduce dependence on foreign players.
He said indigenisation in platforms and equipment for the army, navy and air force was growing but the country has a long way to go. “Do not expect miracles,” he said.
He said in past the defence sector was exclusively reserved for the public sector but space was also being given to the private sector now. “Our first priority is to reduce the dependence on foreign players,” he said.
Antony said that the new defence procurement procedure (DPP) encourages participation of Indian industry.
Replying to another supplementary, he said Russia was the biggest arms supplier to the country.