Major General KS Venugopal took over from Major General AK Pradhan in a traditional military ceremony.
Major General KS Venugopal assumed charge as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Karnataka and Kerala Sub-Area on Friday.
Venugopal took over from Major General AK Pradhan in a traditional military ceremony.
After taking charge, Venugopal said that tackling encroachment of ministry of defence’s (MoD) land in metros, especially in Bangalore, was a major challenge. There was lot of demand for land in the metros particularly in Bangalore due to its scarcity and there were numerous incidents of encroachment. Army, which is the custodian of these lands, is serious to secure them, he added.
“The MoD has been carrying out joint surveys throughout the country to take back the ministry’s land. We will be interacting with the state government and the civil administration to ensure that the land belonging to the MoD is safeguarded,” said Venugopal.
The MoD owns about 5,000 acres of land in Bangalore and there have been eight cases of encroachment.
Though the sub-area did not disclose how many acres of land has been encroached in Bangalore, out-going GOC Pradhan said that the smallest encroachment of land reported was 6,000 sq ft and the largest being two acre.
“Encroachment is more in Bangalore when compared to other centres,” he said.
Outlining his other priority areas, Venugopal said improving civil-military relationship, the quality of life of the serving soldiers and their families and enhancing various welfare measures for the ex-servicemen would be top on his agenda.
Major General Venugopal also said that defence minister AK Antony has cleared a proposal for carrying out repair and maintenance works of all defence buildings.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}