PUNE: The state government’s Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) has sought details from seven cantonment boards, including Pune and Khadki, about plots that can be leased or used commercially after the proposed merger of civil areas with their neighbouring corporations.
The DMA has also told the cantonments to collate information about civic facilities, infrastructure, number of serving and retired employees, financial status and citizens’ views on the merger plans.
Apart from Pune and Khadki, the state has cantonments in Dehu Road in Pune, Bhingar in Ahmednagar, Deolali in Nashik, Kamptee in Nagpur and Aurangabad (now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar).
“We have sought these details to facilitate a smooth excision process. These issues were discussed earlier in the round of meetings but no decision was made. We received merger proposals from Deolali and Aurangabad cantonments last year,” a senior DMA official said.
DMA commissioner Manoj Ranade did not respond to phone calls and text messages on Monday.
Meanwhile, a section of senior officials from the cantonment boards told TOI that the state government in the past has sought clarification on several issues.
“The peculiar things of the cantonment are empty plots that would become the property of the state government post merger. The DMA is keen about these plots to calculate possible revenue generation,” the officials added.
Most vacant land plots are in the proximity of the military areas of some cantonments, including in Pune and Khadki.
“Besides, civil pockets, for instance in Pune Cantonment Board areas, are prime properties. They are close to key defence establishments. Once they become a part of the municipal corporation, the army authorities will not have a say on the Floor Space Index. Thus, cantonment authorities must shortlist areas for the merger,” another official from the cantonment said.
While the Pune Cantonment has about 250 acres of civil area pockets spread across eight wards, the Khadki cantonment has about 150 acres of civil defence land pockets.
Rajabhau Chavan, an activist from the Pune cantonment, said, “The cantonment board should consider citizens’ views and accord importance to their opinions. The merger of the civil areas is going to impact each citizen in the cantonment. Cantonment board authorities must clarify their stance to citizens.”
