New Delhi: In a long-pending move that will pave the way for a number of stuck public projects to take off, the Narendra Modi government has approved new rules that allow equal value infrastructure (EVI) development for armed forces in lieu of the land procured from them.
The new rules come ahead of a series of defence land reforms that the government is considering. It is also working towards finalising a Cantonment Bill 2020, which aims to provide for development in cantonment zones.
Explaining the new set of land reforms brought in, Ministry of Defence sources said so far defence land needed for major public projects – like building of metro, roads, railways and flyover – could only be exchanged for land of equivalent value, or after payment of market prices.
“The problem was that getting land for land was a problem since there was a lot of acquisition process involved. And then there was an option of payment. However, the paid amount used to go into the Consolidated Fund of India and not the agency whose land was being acquired,” a source said.
Under the new rules, eight EVI projects have been identified, which the acquiring party can provide infrastructure for in coordination with the concerned Service, the source explained.
“The eight identified projects include building units and roads among others,” the source said.
According to the new rules, the value of land would be determined by a committee headed by the local military authority – in cases under cantonment zones. For land outside cantonments, the district magistrate will decide on the rate.
If in any case the EVI is less than the cost of the land, the remaining amount would be transferred to the Defence Ministry.
Also, the armed forces will be responsible for the quality of construction and any project delay and time costs will have to be borne by them.
“The initiative is actually good. This was a reform that has been pending for long. Getting an equal value of land was difficult and took years because of which many public interest projects did not take off. The new rules will pave the way for mutual development,” a senior officer in one of the Services said.
On 24 October, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar had tweeted, “NHAI, Metros, State Govts. etc can offer Equal Value Infrastructure in lieu of defence land required by them. Armed Forces to benefit as their infrastructure needs get met with new policy approved by the Ministry of Defence.”
NHAI, Metros, State Govts. etc can offer Equal Value Infrastructure in lieu of defence land required by them.
Armed Forces to benefit as their infrastructure needs get met with new policy approved by Ministry of Defence.
Development of projects speeds up with this win win policy pic.twitter.com/dyDgFDYWAB— Ajay Kumar (@drajaykumar_ias) October 24, 2020
He added that the development of projects speeds up with this “win win” policy.
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Sceptics wary of defence land being given away
The defence ministry is the biggest land-owner in the country. According to the Directorate General, Defence Estates, the ministry has about 17.95 lakh acres of which about 16.35 lakh acres are outside the 62 cantonments in the country.
Sources said encroachment of land is a major issue and 56.48 acres of the reported encroachments or unauthorised constructions have been detected on defence land in the last three years.
Sources pointed out that in the 1990s, the defence land was estimated to be a lot more than 17.95 lakh acres. They said that over the years, several acres of land have been lost due to a number of reasons.
Sources also said that one will have to ensure that projects are completed on time and are of quality.
A former senior officer with the Defence Estates said that land was transferred to the Delhi Metro for making a station in the North Campus area at very low rates. However, due to the alignment of the metro plans, the land was not used and was sold off later to a private player at much higher rates than procured for.
“There are a number of issues that come into play with defence land which is precious. It should be ensured that the Defence Estates and the armed forces are not taken for a ride when it comes to acquiring the land,” the former officer said.
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Why does defence ministry takes long time to acquisition land ,