HYDERABAD: Against the backdrop of the Adarsh housing scam, the Defence Ministry has started computerising records pertaining to the land possessed by it.

"We have about 17 lakh acres of land, out of which, two lakh acres are in Cantonment areas, across 62 Cantonments spread all over the country, which is very valuable. We have begun the process of computerising all the land (records) that we have," Union Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.

The process of computerisation of the land details has begun and is likely to be completed soon, he said. In safeguarding the defence land, the ministry is taking all possible measures. We are also strengthening the director general of Defence Estates, the minister said, adding the armed forces have also been asked to take a greater responsibility on the matter.

The Minister also urged public representatives to help protect defence lands which are mistaken as vacant lands. Replying to a query on Adarsh housing scam, he said the ministry would wait for the outcome of CBI probe.