The Defence Ministry has mandated the abolition of all 62 cantonment boards, including Belagavi’s, by the end of 2024. This move will transform these areas into military stations and integrate civilian regions into state municipal bodies, in Belagavi it will be the City Corporation.
Issued on Friday, this decision aims to modernize military infrastructure and enhance urban governance. It comes after persistent efforts by local advocacy groups and politicians. The directive addresses long-standing issues of inadequate municipal services in civilian areas, often hampered by financial constraints.
Retired Major General Harsha Kakar stated that the initiative would lead to better management and security within military stations while allowing civilian areas to benefit from improved state-level municipal governance.
The central government is expediting the separation of civilian areas from defense zones. Property rights over assets in 13 military cantonments will be transferred to local municipalities. While military stations will remain with the forces, areas outside them will be handed over to the state government.
In a letter to the cantonments, the government outlined broad guidelines for the excision of civil areas and their merger with state municipalities. These guidelines were formulated in a meeting chaired by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane last week.
“The propriety rights over all assets meant for providing civic amenities and municipal services in the excised area shall be transferred to State Government/State Municipalities free of cost. Assets and liabilities of the Cantonment Boards shall be transferred to State Municipality,” the letter stated.
The government will retain title rights where applicable. The letter also mentioned, “Municipalities shall be able to impose local taxes/fees over such areas under their jurisdiction. However, security concerns of the Armed Forces will be prioritized in cases where privately held lands’ segregation impacts the security of Military Stations. These will be considered on a case-by-case basis.”
India currently has 62 notified cantonments encompassing 1.61 lakh acres. Presently, all civil and municipal affairs within these areas are managed by military cantonment boards.