March 14, 2002

'33'

    The Government of Karnataka has agreed in principle to return to the Army 2.02 acres of Defence land under encroachment in Bangalore after relocation of the slum.

    In the Civil-Military Liaison Conference co-chaired by Chief of Staff, Headquarters Southern Command, and Chief Secretary, Karnataka held in Bangalore on November 29, 2001 it has decided that the question of transfer of land may be addressed in a holistic manner keeping in view the principle of equal value land assets.

    State Government authorities indicated that 60% of assured water supply will be made available to defence establishments by March 2002 and thereafter increased uniformly by 5 % every year till 100% assured quantity is met.

    Command Hospital Air Force Bangalore may formally approach State Government authorities for charging of water supply in the ratio of 80:20 (domestic/non-domestic rates) as being charged for all other defence establishments.

    This information was given by the Defence Minister Shri George Fernandes in a written reply to Shri G Mallikarjunappa, Shri Iqbal Ahmed Saradgi and Shri GS Basavaraj in Lok Sabha today.