The Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) is moving forward with plans to merge its civil areas into the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), following directives from Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane. This initiative aims to streamline administration and enforce uniform municipal laws across the region.
Directive and Meetings
The decision to initiate the merger was prompted by a meeting chaired by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, involving officials from nine states, including Maharashtra, on June 25. Meenakshi Lohia, CEO of KCB, confirmed ongoing efforts to prepare a comprehensive draft proposal. Discussions are scheduled with state government officials on July 18 to finalize modalities and address administrative aspects.
Government Collaboration
Deputy Secretary of Urban Development, Sushila Pawar, and Director of Maharashtra Municipal Administration, Manoj Ranade, have been actively involved in these discussions. Pawar indicated that proposals for other cantonments, such as Aurangabad and Deolali in Nashik, are also under consideration. The state government intends to submit comments regarding Pune and Ahmednagar cantonments to the Ministry of Defence within the next two weeks.
Process and Implementation
Manoj Ranade highlighted that district administrations will collaborate with respective cantonments to determine conditions for the merger. This includes accommodating cantonment employees within state government services, a process expected to unfold in the coming months.
Strategic Decision by Ministry of Defence
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has affirmed its decision to segregate civil areas from cantonments and integrate them into adjoining civic bodies to ensure consistent application of municipal laws. Military stations will retain their current jurisdiction under armed forces’ control, as per directives from the Directorate General of Defence Estates (DGDE) in New Delhi.
Future Steps
Officials from DGDE emphasized that the decision to execute these changes in cantonment areas is non-negotiable, underscoring the strategic imperative for uniform administration and governance.
As KCB progresses with drafting its proposal and engaging with state authorities, stakeholders anticipate a cohesive approach to integrating civil areas into PMC, marking a significant step towards streamlined governance and improved service delivery in Pune’s expanded municipal framework.
