Lok Sabha Question No. 1365 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Encroachment on Railway Land
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: REKHA ARUN VERMA, BHAVANA GAWALI (PATIL)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1365 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2018

## ENCROACHMENT ON RAILWAY LAND

†1365. SHRIMATI REKHA VERMA: SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIKRAO GAWALI PATIL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  prepared  any  Action  Plan  for removal of encroachment from railway land across the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  the  number of times demolition drive was  conducted by the Railways  under  different  zones  during  the  year  2014  and  2017 along with the area of land cleared from encroachers as a result thereof, zone-wise;
- (d) the total area still under encroachment along with the steps taken to clear encroachment; and
- (e)  the  action  being  taken  by  the  Railways  on  priority  basis  for construction  of  boundary  wall  at  railway  stations  located  in densely populated areas with a purpose to check encroachments and proper maintenance of railway stations?

ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (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. 1365 BY SHRIMATI REKHA VERMA AND SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIKRAO GAWALI PATIL TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 25.07.2018 REGARDING ENCROACHMENT ON RAILWAY 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. For these encroachments, Railways  carry  out  regular  surveys  and  take  action  for  their removal.  If  the  encroachments  are  of  a  temporary  nature  (soft encroachment) in the shape of jhuggies, jhopries 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. The removal of encroachments by launching demolition drive is a continuous process, as a result of which in the years 2014-15 and 2017-18, 45.062 hectares of encroached land has been retrieved. During 2014 and 2017, 1797 demolition drives were conducted by the Zonal Railways to get Railway land freed from encroachments.    The  details  of  encroachment  existing  as  on 31.03.2018 and the land retrieved from encroachments in 201415 and 2017-18 are as under:-

…2/-

(Figures in Hectares)

| Zonal Railway      |   Land under encroachment as on 31.03.2018 |   Land retrieved during the years 2014 & 2017 |
|--------------------|--------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| Central            |                                      58.05 |                                         1.31  |
| Eastern            |                                      20.52 |                                         0.507 |
| East Central       |                                       1.99 |                                         1     |
| East Coast         |                                      14.21 |                                         3.306 |
| Northern           |                                     202.93 |                                         3.632 |
| North Central      |                                      40.94 |                                         0.01  |
| North Eastern      |                                      25.63 |                                         0.21  |
| Northeast Frontier |                                      98.5  |                                        24.957 |
| North Western      |                                      18.53 |                                         0.324 |
| Southern           |                                      58.69 |                                         1.62  |
| South Central      |                                      16.98 |                                         0.145 |
| South Eastern      |                                     147.82 |                                         3.13  |
| Southeast Central  |                                      43.57 |                                         2.491 |
| South Western      |                                      16.26 |                                         0     |
| Western            |                                      39.27 |                                         2.15  |
| West Central       |                                      34.75 |                                         0.27  |
| Production Units   |                                       5.74 |                                         0     |
| Total              |                                     844.38 |                                        45.062 |

Railways  take  regular  measures  to  protect  Railway  land from encroachment which includes licensing of land to Railway employees  for  Grow  More  Food  (GMF)  scheme,  provision  of boundary wall, fencing, tree plantation at vulnerable locations.

The construction of boundary wall is a priority item at such locations  to  check  encroachment  around  vulnerable  locations like densely populated areas around Railway stations which also help in proper maintenance of stations. During the years 2015-18, 563 kilometers of boundary wall have been constructed.

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