The process is on to work out the modalities for removal of civil areas from the limits of Shillong Cantonment.
The State government has recently nominated the Commissioner and Secretary, Urban Affairs Department as member to look into the details of proposed modalities for excision of civil areas from the limits of Shillong Cantonment.
The nomination of the official was in pursuance of the office memorandum issued by the Ministry of Defence on May 23.
It may be mentioned that the 19th century British-era Shillong Cantonment Board will soon shed its cantonment tag and have its civilian area separated and removed from Army control.
The Ministry of Defence has constituted a committee to propose modalities for removal of civil areas from the purview of the Shillong Cantonment Board. These areas will be transferred to the Shillong Municipal Board.
The committee will look into the details of proposed modalities for exclusion of land and immovable assets of the Shillong Cantonment Board, its employees, pensioners, civic services, movable properties and stores, road management and traffic, records, etc.
The report of the committee will be submitted to the Ministry of Defence.
It may be mentioned that Shillong Cantonment Board was established in 1885. The Cantonment Board has control of 491 acres of land with a population of 11,919 as per the 2011 Census.
Currently, the Shillong Cantonment Board consists of 14 members, including seven elected members.
The Central government has recently decided to disband all cantonment boards across the country. The military areas of the cantonments would be converted into military stations and the civilian areas would be merged with adjacent civilian municipal bodies.
Civilian residents of cantonments are not benefited from state welfare schemes since cantonments are governed by Cantonment Boards through the Defence Estates Department of the Ministry of Defence.
