New Delhi, Apr 23: The budgetary allocation for modernisation of defence forces during the last three years (ending March 31, 2003) stood at Rs 52,654.74 crore as against Rs 67,845.56 crore sought, Rajya Sabha was informed today. As against the amount of Rs 25,514.15 crore sought by the defence forces (army, air force and navy) for the financial year 2002-03, the budgetary allocation stood at Rs 18,858.42 crore, Minister of State for Defence Chaman Lal Gupta said in a written reply. During 2001-02 the defence forces had sought Rs 21,808.12 crore against which an allocation of Rs 17,815.76 crore was made.

During 2000-01 as against budgetary estimates allocation of Rs 20,523.29 crore, the allocation stood at Rs 15,980.56 crore, he said. Operation Parakram: as much as 71 per cent of total mines laid during the launch of Operation Parakram to flush out terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir has been demined so far, the minister said.

The information regarding the number of farmers whose land was used specifically for purposes of laying of mines is "secret" due to operational reasons, the minister said in a written reply. Bureau Report