HYDERABAD: Expectations of a better future for the Secunderabad Cantonment have once again been rekindled with Parliament taking up the Cantonments Bill for discussion on Thursday. The Bill, discussion on which will continue on Friday, seeks several changes in the existing Cantonment Act of 1924.

The Bill, as presented on Thursday, divides cantonments in the country into four categories based on the population — with those up to 50,000 falling in Category I and those which have up to 2,500 residents coming in Category IV. The number of elected representatives has been increased while local MLAs and MPs, without voting rights, will be associated with the Cantonment Board.

Major provision

A major provision in the Bill is the reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women and also for Centrally-sponsored schemes. The scope, duties and functions of the Cantonment Board have also been enhanced while the Cantonment will be construed as a deemed municipality so that it can avail of State Government schemes as well.

What all this means for the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) and its residents is, in short, better days. As Cantonment MLA G. Sayanna points out, this was one Bill that the residents of the SCB have been waiting for. Representatives of other parties, including Jampanna Pratap and his colleagues in the newly-elected Board, too are eager to have the Bill passed.

"An increase in the number of elected representatives means delimitation of wards while separate reservations for SC, ST and women mean that instead of the existing single reserved ward (Ward IV for SCs), there will be three wards where reservation will be in effect," says Mr Sayanna. "Once the SCB becomes a deemed municipality, it means more funds, SCB's slums getting notified and getting the benefits of the notification through Central and State funds and schemes, "says Mr. Pratap.

TDP MP Yerran Naidu, during Thursday's discussions, raised the issue of abolishing octroi and toll taxes.

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