PCB elected members oppose lsquoexclusive military areasrsquo plan

  • | Monday | 16th July, 2018

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman clarified in a tweet on July 14 that no such proposal is yet under consideration by the ministry,” they said. Pune: A few Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) elected members have raised an objection to reports of an army plan to create “exclusive military stations” within cantonments in India and hand over civilian areas to local municipal authorities.“Creating such exclusive military stations will only add to the existing problems and won’t be in consonance with provisions of the Cantonment Act, 2006,” PCB vice president Priyanka Shrigiri and members Kiran Mantri, Atul Gaikwad and Dilip Girimkar said at a press conference on Monday.Southern Command chief Lt Gen D R Soni told TOI: “It is for the Union Cabinet to take a decision on this matter after a proper debate. If exclusive military stations are to be created, then it ensure that the new system works.”TOI had reported on July 13 that top army officials believe the move will help reduce the Rs476 crore annual burden on defence budget towards maintenance of cantonments.The PCB members said the plan will deprive residents of areas around the Lohegaon Air Force Station, National Defence Academy, College of Military Engineering (Bopkhel) and Rakshak Chowk in Aundh of easy access to Pune and restrict construction activity.“The future cantonment is to be decided as per provisions under the Cantonments Act, 2006, and not by any government department.

Pune: A few Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) elected members have raised an objection to reports of an army plan to create “exclusive military stations” within cantonments in India and hand over civilian areas to local municipal authorities.“Creating such exclusive military stations will only add to the existing problems and won’t be in consonance with provisions of the Cantonment Act, 2006,” PCB vice president Priyanka Shrigiri and members Kiran Mantri, Atul Gaikwad and Dilip Girimkar said at a press conference on Monday.Southern Command chief Lt Gen D R Soni told TOI: “It is for the Union Cabinet to take a decision on this matter after a proper debate. If exclusive military stations are to be created, then it ensure that the new system works.”TOI had reported on July 13 that top army officials believe the move will help reduce the Rs476 crore annual burden on defence budget towards maintenance of cantonments.The PCB members said the plan will deprive residents of areas around the Lohegaon Air Force Station, National Defence Academy, College of Military Engineering (Bopkhel) and Rakshak Chowk in Aundh of easy access to Pune and restrict construction activity.“The future cantonment is to be decided as per provisions under the Cantonments Act, 2006, and not by any government department. Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman clarified in a tweet on July 14 that no such proposal is yet under consideration by the ministry,” they said.

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