In a shocking trend highlighting the reach of illegal land encroachments, recent reports reveal that even land allocated to India’s military forces is not immune. In Gujarat, encroachments have impacted 212 acres of Ministry of Defence land, as part of a larger national issue affecting over 10,000 acres of defence land across India.
During the final day of the Monsoon Session in Parliament, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth confirmed the alarming figures. “The encroachments on defence land in Gujarat amount to 212.8499 acres, as part of a broader national total of 10,342 acres,” Seth stated.
The affected defence lands in Gujarat are spread across districts including Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Kutch, Banas Kantha, Surendranagar, and Porbandar.
Earlier, the state has seen land allocated to the Border Security Force (BSF), Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy. In previous years, efforts to address these encroachments had some success; however, recent estimates suggest that around 60 acres have been newly encroached upon by land mafias and illegal settlers.
The Ministry of Defence has announced plans to ensure protection for these sensitive areas by constructing barbed wire fences and walls. This measure is part of a broader strategy to secure military lands and prevent further encroachments.
Role of Local Authorities
The crisis extends beyond military land. Encroachments have also impacted grazing land, forests and other government properties. Under the Forest Act, approximately 292 square kilometres out of 14,373 square kilometres of forest land in Gujarat have been encroached upon, alongside over 3,000 hectares of grazing and government land.
Local authorities, including District Collectors and Development Officers, are responsible for addressing these encroachments. While action can be taken against encroachments on private land obstructing public services, government lands require proactive measures. However, reports suggest that enforcement actions have stalled since the COVID-19 pandemic and have created a window for land mafias to exploit.
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