Lok Sabha Question No. 388 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-03
Subject: Secunderabad Cantonment Board
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Anumula Revanth Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 388

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03 rd  February, 2023

## SECUNDERABAD CANTONMENT BOARD

## 388. SHRI ANUMULA REVANTH REDDY:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

(a)    whether  the  Government  has  constituted  an  eight-member  committee  to  look  into  the merger  of  civil  areas  of  the  Secunderabad  Cantonment  Board  (SCB)  with  the  Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation;

(b)  if so, the details thereof alongwith the reasons for not including Public representative/MP and MLAs in the Committee;

(c)    whether the Government proposes to include them in the Committee, if so, the details thereof;

(d)  whether the Government is aware of the Sumit Bose Committee report which states that Cantonment  areas  are  underdeveloped  in  comparison  with  urban  areas,  if  so,  the  details thereof; and

(e)      the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  increase  the  speed  of  development  in  the cantonment  areas  across  the  country,  State/UT-wise  including  Secunderabad  Cantonment Board (SCB)?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

## MINISTER OF STATE (SHRI AJAY BHATT) IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(a):    Yes,  Sir.  A  Committee  has  been  constituted  to  look  into  the  details  of  proposed modalities for excision of civil areas of Secunderabad Cantonment.

(b) & (c): Any decision regarding excision of civil areas of Secunderabad Cantonment and their merger with adjoining municipality shall be taken after consultation with all stakeholders.

(d):  Sumit  Bose  Committee  has  reported  inter-alia  that  the  Cantonments  have  often  not witnessed  the  benefits  of  urbanization  to  the  extent  of  the  neighboring  city  areas.  The Committee recognized the need for development of these areas as a major instrument for their  growth  and  economic  well-being,  so  that  they  grow  in  sync  with  the  adjoining municipalities in the areas of housing, resource development, smart municipal solutions etc. aiming  towards  sustainable  infrastructure  and  services  for  a  better  quality  of  life.  The Committee also recommended various steps for development of Cantonment areas.

(e):  Several steps have been taken by the Government to increase the speed of development in the cantonment areas including Secunderabad Cantonment. Some of the steps are as given below:

- i. 15 th Central Finance Commission grants: Cantonment Boards have started receiving grants based on the recommendations of the 15th Central Finance Commission from Financial Year 2020-21.
- ii. Grants for Creation of Capital Assets: Apart from ordinary grant-in-aid, grants for creation of capital assets like under-ground sewerage system, water supply schemes, construction of hospitals and schools etc. are also being provided from 2012-13 to Cantonment Boards for such proposals based on budgetary allocations.
- iii. Revision of Building Bye-laws of Cantonments: The Ministry/DGDE has engaged an expert agency to conduct a study of six Cantonments and make recommendations on revision of Building Bye-Laws for Cantonments and to suggest a scheme for redevelopment of Cantonments. The agency has submitted its report.
- iv. Implementation  of  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  (CSS)  in  Cantonment  Boards: Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  for  urban  development and  rejuvenation  have  been extended to cantonment areas. Almost all of the CSS are being implemented in most of the cantonments. Some of major Centrally Sponsored Schemes being implemented  in  Cantonment  Boards  are  AMURT,  Mid-Day  Meal,  Smart  City Mission,  Anganwadi  Scheme,  NUHM  (National  Urban  Health  Mission),  Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Ujjwala, PM SVANidhi Scheme, Ayushman Bharat etc.
- v. Preparation of  Land  Use  Plan under section 233  of the  Cantonments  Act, 2006:Suitable instructions have been issued to Cantonment Boards to prepare Land Use Plan as per section 233 of the Cantonments Act, 2006 incorporating the aspects of  identifying  the  zones  keeping  in  view  the  URDPFI  (Urban  and  Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation)guidelines.
- vi. Multi-level  car  parking:  Suitable  instructions  have  been  issued  to  Cantonment Boards to  take  necessary action for framing  multi-level car parking  schemes.  The projects can be undertaken by Boards under self-financing scheme as per availability of funds.
- vii. Construction of a W.C/toilets: Suitable instructions have been issued to Cantonment Boards to allow/permit construction of a W.C/toilet in existing buildings in absence of  any  such  provision  within  that  tenement  to  an  authorized  resident,  subject  to condition that proper sewerage connection to the said building already exists in the Cantonment.
- viii. Repairs to the buildings in Cantonment area: Suitable instructions have been issued to Cantonment Boards whereby clarification on 'repairs' has been issued for which separate sanction is not required from the Cantonment Board.

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