Date:15/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/15/stories/2006081504770400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Cantonments to become deemed municipalities

Special Correspondent

Cantonment Bill is before Parliament

There are 62 cantonments in the country

They are in possession of 17 lakh acres of land

Bangalore: Bangalore Cantonment will become a deemed municipality after Parliament passes the Cantonment Bill, 2006, which seeks to grant the status of deemed municipalities to cantonments, thereby allowing them to discharge the functions of a municipality.

During British rule, cantonments served as temporary stations for troops but are now their permanent stations. The present-day cantonments consist of both Defence establishments and their lands and adjacent areas of civilian residences as in Bangalore.

There are 62 cantonments in the country, out of which 56 were set up during the British period and six after India got freedom.

The cantonments are in possession of 17 lakh acres of land, out of which 15 lakh acres are Defence land. A separate Bill will be introduced in respect of Defence land.

As per the Cantonment Bill, 2006, the Union Government has divided the cantonments into four categories from the existing three and increased the number of elected representatives. Local MPs and MLAs will be associated with these cantonments without voting rights. The Bill provides for more democratisation of the cantonment boards, officials said.