Decision on the merging of the cantonment board to be announced soon?

Aurangabad, Feb 16:

It is not unknown to the residents of the cantonment board about the plan of merging the civil area of the cantonment under the local municipal body. Merging will reduce the cost incurred by MoD on the maintenance of the cantonment areas and the merger will reduce the maintenance cost by several crores. However, there are different opinions. The political leaders in the cantonment area have called this move dangerous as it will hamper the defence security claiming it will become easier to spy on the army area due to easy access and development. Another concern expressed is what will the residents of cantonment experience if their area gets merged into the local municipal body. As opined by local corporators different aspects will have to be looked at.

Environment and work speed

Shifting under the local body will boost development, but the environment will get hampered. Cantonment is known for its green cover, its abolition might prove a loss for nature and the environment. Similarly, any work that needs to get done first goes to the cantonment office. Then it moves to the principal director of defence estates, further to the director-general of defence estates, and finally to the ministry of defence. The approval cycle is long, and hence, renovation, development, or any other work gets delayed. If the local body takes over the civil area, any kind of work will require the approval of the state government, thus making the whole process a whole lot easier.

Land and property

The land and property of cantonment boards are divided mainly into three parts: Lease land, old grant, and bungalows. Lease land refers to the land of the central government taken on lease by the board. Old grant is the one that was given to the natives of cantonment by the then cantonment administration for use. The major portion of Aurangabad Cantonment Board (ACB) land comes under the leased land of the central government. The property belongs to the residents, but the land it’s built on belongs to the government.

Easy availability of funds and schemes, accessible roads

All the schemes of state government that the residents of cantonment are deprived of, will apply to them if the merge happens. Even the funds will become easily accessible through state government as the process will cut short. Some of the roads will get open for the general public that earlier had restrictions to pass through.