Context:
Recently, the Centre issued a notification to denotify civil areas of 10 out of 58 cantonments in the country. These areas will be merged with the respective state municipalities or local bodies. The government’s plan involves excluding specific areas from the cantonments and integrating them into the local governance structure of the respective states.
Relevance:
GS II: Polity and Governance
Dimensions of the Article:
- Cantonments Overview
- Need for Merging Cantonments with Municipalities
- Issues in Merging Cantonments with Municipalities
Cantonments Overview:
- Definition: Cantonments are designated areas primarily for housing military personnel and supporting infrastructure, evolving from temporary military encampments to semi-permanent settlements over time.
- Historical Background: Originating from the French word “canton,” meaning “corner” or “district,” cantonments have a history dating back to the British East India Company period in India, with the first cantonment established in 1765 at Barrackpore near Calcutta.
- Purpose: Cantonments serve as accommodations for military troops and their families, providing various facilities such as offices, schools, and logistic services.
Mechanism for Cantonment Administrations in India:
- Classification: Cantonments in India are classified into four categories (class I to class IV) based on size and population, with varying numbers of elected civilians and government/military members on the cantonment board.
- Board Composition: The cantonment board, responsible for administration, comprises elected civilians, government/military members, with the station commander serving as the ex-officio president, and an officer from the Defence Estates Organisation as the chief executive and member-secretary.
- Central Administration: Cantonment administration is controlled by an inter-services organization of the Ministry of Defence, with urban self-governance falling under the jurisdiction of the Union of India as per the Constitution.
Administrative Structure and Regulation:
- Central Level: The Ministry of Defence oversees cantonment boards, while the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs handle urban governance and municipal corporations in Union Territories, respectively.
- State Level: Urban governance is part of the state list under the Constitution, with the establishment of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) empowered by the Constitution (74th Amendment) Act, 1992.
Need for Merging Cantonments with Municipalities:
- Civilian Complaints: Residents of cantonment areas have long expressed dissatisfaction with different restrictions imposed by cantonment boards, such as limited access to home loans and restricted movement within the premises.
- Improved Civic Amenities: Integration of civilian areas into municipal governance can lead to enhanced civic amenities and infrastructural development, offering residents a greater say in local governance matters.
Issues in Merging Cantonments with Municipalities:
- Legal and Administrative Challenges: The transition from a cantonment town to a merged municipality may pose various legal and administrative hurdles, including the integration of infrastructure systems like roads, water supply, sewage, and electricity.
- Resistance from City Representatives: City councillors and political representatives may resist allocating funds to support newly merged areas, exacerbating inequalities within the city and hindering efforts to improve services and infrastructure.
- Strain on Infrastructure: The sudden inclusion of cantonment areas into Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) may strain existing infrastructure, leading to service disruptions and deteriorating living conditions for residents.
- Environmental Concerns: Uncontrolled construction and commercialization in merged areas could harm the environment, causing issues like deforestation, soil erosion, and increased vulnerability to natural disasters.
- Security Challenges: Proximity of civilian areas to military installations raises security concerns, necessitating adherence to security guidelines and regulations to ensure the safety of military personnel and assets.
-Source: The Hindu
