ENCROACHMENT OF DEFENCE LAND

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LOK SABHA

Approximately, an area of 10617 acres of Defence land is under encroachment. Exact details of the encroachment, state-wise, are being compiled and will be laid on the Table of the House.

Directions have been issued to Director General Defence Estates and Service Headquarters to take action for removal of encroachment under the provisions of Cantonment Act, 1924 and Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971. Some of the encroachments are under litigation and hence their removal is subject to Court orders.

The existing Defence Land Policy does not provide for declaring any defence land as surplus.

This information was given by the Defence Minister Shri George Fernandes in a written reply to Ram Mohan Gadde and others in Lok Sabha today.