New Delhi, Fab 10: Out of around 18 lakh acres of defence land across the country, about 10,249 acres are under encroachment, the government informed Parliament on Monday.
Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth said this in a written response to a query in the Rajya Sabha.
The government was asked about the details of defence land “under encroachment” in the country, with location-wise data.
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“Out of around 18 lakh acres of defence land across the country, about 10,249 acres is under encroachment,” the minister said in his response.
He also shared state-wise details of encroachment on defence land.
In another query, the government was asked whether it is aware of the fact that a large number of parcels of land or bundles of land belonging to defence have been leased to private and other entities, which are either not leased further or under encroachment.
Leases of defence land within cantonments have historically been granted to private individuals, institutions and government bodies for various purposes under the Cantonment Codes of 1899 and 1912, followed by the Cantonment Land Administration Rules of 1925 and 1937, Seth said.
“These leases were normally granted either in perpetuity or for a total lease period of 90 years. In order to extend the lease period of expiring or expired leases and regularise the occupation of these sites, besides recovering lease rent, the ministry issued an interim policy on March 10, 2017, which has been extended up to December 31, 2025. As regards encroachments on defence land, the same are dealt as per law under the provision of the Cantonments Act, 2006 and Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971,” the minister said in his response. (PTI)
