Lok Sabha Question No. 3589 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-08
Subject: Encroachment on Vacant Land
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAJENDRA AGRAWAL, P. KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3589 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2018

## ENCROACHMENT ON VACANT LAND

†3589. SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL: SHRI P. KUMAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the cases of illegal occupation of vacant railway land have come into light;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, zone-wise;
- (c) whether the collusion of certain officers of railway with land mafia have come into light in such cases and if so, the details of the action taken in this regard;
- (d)  whether  such  encroachments  have  been  causing  serious operational  problems  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the reaction of Railways thereto; and
- (e)  the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  remove  such encroachments?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ANSWER (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3589 BY SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL AND  SHRI  P.  KUMAR  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON 08.08.2018 REGARDING ENCROACHMENT ON VACANT LAND

(a)  to  (e):  As  on  31.03.2018,  out  of  4.77  lakh  hectare  land available  with  Indian  Railways,  approximately  844.38  hectare (0.18%) land is under encroachment (illegal occupation). Most of the  encroachments  are  in  the  approaches  of  the  Stations  in Metros and big cities in the form of slums.

The  zone-wise  details  of  land  under  encroachment  are  as under:-

(As on 31.03.2018)

| Zonal Railway      |   Land under encroachment (in Hectares) |
|--------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| Central            |                                   58.05 |
| Eastern            |                                   20.52 |
| East Central       |                                    1.99 |
| East Coast         |                                   14.21 |
| Northern           |                                  202.93 |
| North Central      |                                   40.94 |
| North Eastern      |                                   25.63 |
| Northeast Frontier |                                   98.5  |
| North Western      |                                   18.53 |
| Southern           |                                   58.69 |
| South Central      |                                   16.98 |
| South Eastern      |                                  147.82 |
| South East Central |                                   43.57 |
| South Western      |                                   16.26 |
| Western            |                                   39.27 |
| West Central       |                                   34.75 |
| Production Units   |                                    5.74 |
| Total              |                                  844.38 |

As  and  when  any  complaint  against  any  Railway  official regarding collusion with land mafia  is received, the matter is got investigated. If any involvement of the official is found, appropriate action is taken by following prescribed procedure.

At certain locations, encroachments cause bottlenecks and safety hazards  in train operations and  difficulties in track maintenance  which  at  times  affects  the  line  capacity  and  the throughput  which  ultimately  affects  the  revenue  of  Railways which may not be feasible to assess.

Railways  carry  out  regular  surveys  of  encroachment and take action for their removal.  If the encroachments are of a temporary nature (soft encroachments) in the shape of jhuggies, jhopris and squatters, the same are got removed in consultation and  with  the  assistance  of  Railway  Protection  Force  and  local civil  authorities.    For  old  encroachments,  where  party  is  not amenable to persuasion, action is taken under Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971 [PPE Act, 1971), as amended from time to time.  Actual eviction of unauthorized occupants is carried out with the assistance of State Government and police.

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