Over 12,000 acres of defence land is under encroachment: Government

NEW DELHI: About 12,364 acres of defence land is under encroachment and the Defence Ministry has issued detailed instructions for ensuring vigilance, detection and prevention of such cases, the government said today.

In a written reply to Lok Sabha, Defence Minister A K Antony said, "About 12,364 acres of defence land is under illegal occupation or encroachment including by civilians."

On the number of cases of alleged corruption relating to defence land, he said, "Seven such cases of alleged corruption and irregularities regarding defence lands have been reported to the Ministry."

Replying to a query on women serving in armed forces, he said, "At present the percentage of women officers as per held strength of officers in Army, Navy and Air Force (excluding medical streams) is 3.3, 3.9 and 10.04 per cent respectively."

Antony told the House till 2011, the recorded strength of women in defence forces was 366.

In a separate reply over integration of auto-pilot system in Jaguar fighter aircraft, he said, "Procurement of autopilot for 55 Jaguar aircraft has been completed and commercial discussions for repeat procurement of additional 95 autopilots are under progress."

Integration of autopilot on Jaguar aircraft is being undertaken in two phases.