THE ARMED Forces are planning to optimise thousands of acres of unutilised defence land across the country over the next three to five years for various projects, particularly those focusing on green energy initiatives,The Indian Express has learnt.
An estimated 46,000 acres of defence land can be used for such projects. The options being explored include setting up solar plants, biogas plants, carrying out afforestation and floriculture to earn carbon credits.
Some of these projects will be implemented in collaboration with National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Green; other PSUs could also be roped in for future use. Defence land is divided into various categories based on its current usage.
It has been learnt that a consultant has been engaged to examine feasible options. Following this examination, the land will be made available to central and state governments and allied organisations for the specific project selected.
Senior officials privy to the developments said, as an initial pilot project it has been decided to set up a solar plant in a patch of defence land in a specific state in collaboration with NTPC Green.
A detailed project report for the project is currently being drafted. Subsequently, such projects—focusing on green energy initiatives—would be set up in other locations under a pact with NTPC or other government PSUs.
According to officials, any permanent infrastructure may not be created on the identified defence land, which may be used for environmental projects, afforestation, floriculture, solar energy generation, among others.
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Explained
Changes in use of defence land
In the past, defence land has been given to state governments in lieu of an equal value land to the Ministry of Defence elsewhere or for constructing equal value infrastructure. The Defence Ministry in 2020 approved a new policy under which defence land needed to create public infrastructure could only be provided if the acquirer was willing to establish equal value infrastructure for the organisation owning the land.
Officials said it is also being discussed internally if part of the revenue generated could be used to enhance infrastructure for the Defence Forces, even as the final land use will be decided once the feasibility study is completed and examined by the offices concerned.
An official said the move will also ensure the integrity of the land till it is required by the defence forces. There have also been instances where certain parcels of defence land have been prone to encroachment.
