New Delhi, Oct 24: Expressing concern over huge encroachment of defence estates and land, defence minister George Fernandes has called for a detailed study of the magnitude of the menace.
Disclosing that of 17 lakh acre of defence land spread over 82 cantonments, nearly nine thousand acre was under encroachment, Fernandes hinted that surplus land could be disposed off. He said such measures had to be taken as otherwise encroached lands become frozen assests of the government stressing that appropriate study had to be made of land usage.
Saying that the study should be carried out expeditiously, the minister said that efforts should be made to ensure that defence land was utilised for the purpose for which it had been acquired.
The new office complex, which is being built at a cost of Rs ten crore and likely to be completed in 18 months, will be spread in an area of five acre and will also have a training institute, transit accomodation, besides the main office complex.

Bureau Report